Neswick — And the Word was made flesh

SATB + organ | Duration: approximately 5:00

An anthem built on the ancient hymn tune Divinum mysterium (“Of the Father’s love begotten”), woven through luminous organ writing of characteristic grace. A profound and welcome addition to the Advent/Christmas repertoire, accessible to most choirs.

Commissioned by Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston, South Carolina, Nicholas Quardokus, Organist-Choirmaster, and first performed there in December 2022

BRUCE NESWICK (b. 1956) is the Interim Director of Music at St. James' in-the-City Episcopal Church, Los Angeles. He is a graduate of Pacific Lutheran University and Yale University, and his organ teachers have included David Dahl, Margaret Irwin-Brandon, Gerre Hancock, Robert Baker and Lionel Rogg. Mr. Neswick also holds Fellowship degrees from the American Guild of Organists and the Royal School of Church Music and was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of the South in 2016. He has conducted dozens of RSCM summer camps and festivals for boy and girl choristers and has been commissioned to compose for performers and churches throughout North America. Mr. Neswick’s skill at improvisation garnered him three first prizes from the 1989 San Anselmo Organ Festival; the 1990 AGO convention in Boston; and the 1992 Rochette Concours at the Conservatoire de Musique in Geneva, Switzerland. Active as a recitalist, choral conductor and composer, he has performed and taught at many past AGO national conventions, including those in Dallas, Seattle, Washington, DC, and Boston. Mr. Neswick is represented by Phillip Truckenbrod Concert Artists.