PDF version of Nothing but Blood (Quintet) by Micah Mooney (Full Score and All Parts, 1 document)

String Quintet

Nothing but Blood is a quotation piece which draws its material primarily from Robert Lowry’s 1876 hymn “Nothing but the Blood of Jesus”. In Christian circles, phrases like “washed by the blood” are used so often, a significant level of gravitas and nuance has been lost. The idea of being washed by blood should conjure up a grotesque and paradoxical image, and yet, these phrases are sung in church services to the most care-free of tunes. While theologically, this blood-washing should stir in the heart of a believer a great joy, it should not be without a deep reflection on what that joy cost. The goal of this piece is to recontextualize this blood-washing in a somber, Lenten, posture, so that the celebration of Easter may be even more joyous.

While pitch and rhythmic material come from the hymn, the greater form of the piece is derived from four Hebrew words in a passage by the prophet Isaiah: חלל (“pierced”), זכא (“crushed”), מוסר (”punishment”), and חבורה (“wounds”) (Is. 53:5). These four words influence aspects of the four main sections of the piece including length and character. During the fourth section (חבורה: “wounds”), the original tune of Lowry’s hymn emerges, unadjusted in essence, yet aurally affected by its surroundings which put it, along with its associative text, in a new context. The changes to the musical source, much like to the title itself, will hopefully allow listeners to approach the subject matter in a new way.

Video: https://youtu.be/l3lizzSeDWk