I Am the True Vine

The choral piece I Am the True Vine was composed for a cappella mixed choir to celebrate the 900th anniversary of Norwich Cathedral in 1996. It premiered on 22 June 1996, performed by the Norwich Cathedral choir conducted by David Dunnett.

The text is based on John 15: 1–14, where Jesus uses the parable “I am the true vine”, giving his followers a command to love each other. Inspired by the vine metaphor, Pärt has created a sound pattern, which is systematically repeated six times throughout the composition. The voice groups of the choir align and recede from the streaming sounds one by one following a strict scheme, creating a smooth rotation of higher and lower registers. Pärt uses a medieval composition technique known as hocket for voice leading, where th…

The choral piece I Am the True Vine was composed for a cappella mixed choir to celebrate the 900th anniversary of Norwich Cathedral in 1996. It premiered on 22 June 1996, performed by the Norwich Cathedral choir conducted by David Dunnett.

The text is based on John 15: 1–14, where Jesus uses the parable “I am the true vine”, giving his followers a command to love each other. Inspired by the vine metaphor, Pärt has created a sound pattern, which is systematically repeated six times throughout the composition. The voice groups of the choir align and recede from the streaming sounds one by one following a strict scheme, creating a smooth rotation of higher and lower registers. Pärt uses a medieval composition technique known as hocket for voice leading, where the text is divided between the upper voices, moving alternately from one voice to another. The value of the hocket technique is that the repeating melodic material maintains its freshness. The composer varies the rhythm every time according to the rhythm of the text, highlighting the fourth reprise with drone in the bass and soprano. The continuum of the alternating voices creates the image of the serpentine vine shoots.