Canticum is a musical setting of lyric poetry from the Canticum Canticorum (Song of Songs) of the Latin Vulgate Bible, scored for 4-part treble chorus and piano. The text, from Song of Songs (or Song of Solomon) 2:10-13, describes the lover calling his beloved to rise and join him in delighting in the sounds, sights, and smells of springtime. Taken at face value, this poetry is a celebration of human love. From a religious perspective, this scene also represents God (the lover) calling his church (the beloved). In this setting, I do not rigidly adhere to the original biblical sequence. The first and last words employ, for example, are taken from partway through the 11th verse (hiemps transit imber abiit et recessit/ the winter is past; the rains are over and gone). The first words of the original biblical verse ten (et dilectus meus loquitur mihi / my beloved spake, and said unto me) recur throughout the setting in the voice of a different soloist, as a pause in anticipation of an ensuing section. I also take words out of their original context- -such as “surge” and “et veni” (“arise” and “and come”)-and utilize them to explore a wider range of harmonies and different emotional colors. In all cases, the meaning of the text as well as its sound guides this setting. Canticum was composed with generous assistance from the Hawaii Music Teachers Association and the Music Teachers National Association, for performance at the annual HMTA state convention on November 10, 2008. I am also indebted to Nola Nähulu and her 2008-09 Hawaii Youth Opera Chorus Nã Leo Kuho’okahi ensemble for giving of their time and energy in preparation for the first performance of Canticum. – Jon Magnussen, Honolulu, HI 26 September 2008