Ecce Crucem Domini!	Behold the Cross of the Lord!
Fugite partes adversae!	Be gone all evil powers!
Vicit Leo de tribu Iuda,	The Lion of the tribe of Judah,
Radix David! Alleluia!	The root of David has conquered! Alleluia!

Translation: http://www.preces-latinae.org/thesaurus/Sancti/SAntoniusDePadova/EcceCrucem.html (accessed 13 November 2011)

The text, with its hint of exorcism and evocative symbolisms captured my imagination from the very first reading. N.B. Whisperings and ‘incantations’ are not just meaningless sound effects in a bid to appear avant-garde. Orchestration, number of voices to choice of meter and repetitions etc., are replete with Augenmusik (music for the eyes) and references to numerology, with particular emphasis on the numbers 2, 3, 4 and 13. Apart from Augenmusik and numerology, spatial distribution of performers, thematic transfiguration and Madrigalism are also key components in the conceptualization of this piece. As an example, please see below, the ‘triple cross motif’, obtained by connecting the dots. The second cross is outlined below:

Because of the philosophical conceptualization, it is imperative for the conductor to conduct using the conventional 4/4 beat patterns for the main choir in Figure A up to the final invocations of cruce(m) prior to Figure B. The conducting approach for all other sections may be at the discretion of the conductor.

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