Philip Moore: Via crucis: Orgel

‘Via Crucis’ is a devotion for Passiontide, offering a ruminative resource for prayer and reflection on Christ’s death. It has a structure that is similar to the Stations of the Cross, used for many centuries. The service contains a selection of deeply felt but restrained prayers by Eric Milner-White. These are interspersed with 15 descriptive organ pieces by Philip Moore, which act as musical responses to the words, and range from meditative to more challenging, dramatic moods. Together, the prayers and music combine to provide a beautifully fresh perspective on Lenten themes. The choice of prayers by Eric Milner-White mirrors a selection of stations used in ‘Common Worship: Times and Seasons’ for The Way of the Cross. When the prayers were first published in 1956, they were immediately acclaimed as a most inspiring contribution for use during Lent and Passiontide. ‘Via Crucis’ could be used as a focus for meditation or a contemplation of spiritual issues. Places of worship could add images or movement as a way of developing or enhancing the suggested Order of Service, which already includes Philip Moore’s imaginative music for organ.