Nathanael Hahn

Written by Christian poet George Herbert, “Antiphon (II)” proclaims the works of God, in the eyes of both the angels in heaven and man on earth. As the title suggests, this poem is meant to be an antiphonal song: first, the angels and men sing together in chorus; then they each in turn sing a line of their own.  This pattern repeats seven times, with the final couplet of the poem once again sung in chorus. Man’s verses contrast with that of the angels in that man praises God from his corrupted—yet redeemed—state, while the angels praise Him from heaven itself.

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This setting brings together two four-part choirs: one of women (to represent the angels) and one of men (to represent mankind). Whoever is singing the text at any given time corresponds to the group singing that line in the original text, either men, angels, or both. The high, ethereal chords throughout are meant to give the impression of the separate nature of men and angels, as well as their harmony in the kingdom of God because of Christ.