Caritas Et Amor (SSATB)

Voicing: SSATB a cappella
Composed by Z. Randall Stroope

"Caritas et Amor" ("Charity and Love") makes frequent brief references to the opening (and well-known) theme of the tenth-century antiphon, Ubi Caritas, and then builds sonic reflections to that theme using new material, albeit in a "chant style." In this manner, it fundamentally differs from the Duruflé "Ubi Caritas" in which the original chant forms the majority, if not all, of the thematic material for the work. The composer, Z. Randall Stroope, also incorporates the line "Gaudium quod immensum est!" ("Joy that is immense!") which serves as a joyful and sonorous "refrain" to the sense of compassion and promise inherent in the opening Ubi Caritas text ("Where there is charity and love, God is there").