Hakim: Laetare Jerusalem

Description

Laetare Jerusalem is an organ work in a single movement with three sections, based on a setting of the Gregorian melody for the introit of the same name. The opening Moderato section offers a modal, expressive harmonization that reflects the influence of Jean Langlais and Charles Tournemire, capturing the depth of the French organ tradition. in the Poco piu mosso central section, the first verse of Psalm 122 is presented on a trumpet stop in the left hand, accompanied by a dense harmonic texture in the upper register with voix céleste and voix humaine stops. The final Allegro moderato section revisits the theme in a perpetuum mobile style with broken arpeggios on soft foundation stops. This joyful conclusion aligns with the following text from the introit for the fourth Sunday of Lent:

"Laetare Ierusalem: et conventum facite omnes qui diligitis eam: gaudete cum laetitia, qui in tristitia fuistis"

(Rejoice, Jerusalem! and come together, all you who love her; rejoice with gladness, you who were in sadness)