Giving a contemporary take on the venerable lament bass topic (which harmonizes a descending chromatic bass line), Kendzia presents a moving musical setting for SAB choir of Cooney's text, which itself draws upon multiple images of the sacrifice of the Cross, spanning Old and New Testaments. A plaintive oboe part further enriches and comments upon the lament topic. Also included in this octavo is a separate presentation of the same music but setting Caswall's translation of the Stabat Mater dolorosa (with an additional new refrain text by Cooney).
