"Memorare" is a setting of the prayer to the Virgin Mary of the same name. I set it for unacompanied mixed choir, splitting of a section of low bass voices and creating more or less two choirs. One dedicated to the prayer and the other to intonate eternal divine presence as a bed for the whole piece. The prayer is set in Latin and is meant to be performed with great humility and inner stillness.

 To me, the prayer's text expresses a moment of doubtfulness which is later resolved and turned into invigorated decisiveness. 

My work "Cantus für Streichoktett" is exactly what its title presumes: a piece for string-octet, which takes inspiration from sacred music, especially in the aspect of basing music on text; like a cantus. I have always wanted to set text not for voices, but for strings. The timing was just right, when the international string-octet "Oberton" (based in Austria) was holding their first international composing competition, which I then took for inspiration and decided to write for string-octet. I am most happy that my first ever entry into a composing competition has been awarded with second prize. 

I have based the composition on the sacred russian text of the great litany (великая ектения).

The "Oberton" - string octet has included this piece in their repertoire and will premiere it.