Meditation on “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded”

Description

Meditation on “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded”  is an ethereal reimagining of the hymn for solo piano. With contrapuntal references to the original modified by unexpected harmonic shifts that espouse the heart of the hymn’s text, the arrangement is an excellent fit for any and all Lenten/Holy Week programming needs.

Approximate Duration: 3’15″

1. O sacred Head, now wounded,
with grief and shame weighed down,
now scornfully surrounded
with thorns, thine only crown:
how pale thou art with anguish,
with sore abuse and scorn!
How does that visage languish
which once was bright as morn!

2. What thou, my Lord, hast suffered
was all for sinners’ gain;
mine, mine was the transgression,
but thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior!
‘Tis I deserve thy place;
look on me with thy favor,
vouchsafe to me thy grace.

3. What language shall I borrow
to thank thee, dearest friend,
for this thy dying sorrow,
thy pity without end?
O make me thine forever;
and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never
outlive my love to thee.