The Lorica of St. Patrick

The Lorica of St. Patrick is a musical composition that depicts the themes and character of the ancient Irish text the Loricae Patricii. This ancient text calls upon the power of God, specifically the Trinity, to protect humankind from the powers of darkness while surrounding believers in the love of Christ. The dual nature of this power is manifested in the work through the use of both concordant and discordant sounds and harmonies, placed horizontally and vertically. The intent is to musically depict the trajectory of the text while at the same time introducing musical ambiguity making the listener aware that our lived reality and the linear spirituality of the Lorica do not always converge.

The three sections of the work employ different materials, melodies, and harmonies to provide the listener with a musical picture of the power of the text, and how that power both supports and conflicts with our lives. The three movements focus on different portions of the text, addressing the darker side of God’s power in the first and third movements and the gentle nature of God in the second movement – the Christus Mecum section (Christ with me). To further show the incongruity of the Lorica text as it applies to our lives the textual elements utilized in the work do not follow the same order as in the poem, but instead are reordered. This disparate treatment is never black and white, for the beauty of the Lorica Patricii, as revealed in this composition, lies in its ability to express both the protective power of God, the loving nature of Christ, and the uncertainty of our reality.