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English Translation

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[Editor’s Note: NRSV is the New Revised Standard Version of the Holy Bible]

Jean-Marie LONDEIX
9 rue de Mulhouse
33000 BORDEAUX

Bordeaux, 17 November 1982

Dear Sir,

Thank you for your letter - I was deeply touched. Thank you also for the information contained therein about "Oraisons" ["Meditations"].

While waiting to hear back from you, and in order to share my impressions of the piece with Christian ROBERT [Editor’s note: Robert is the organist at the Cathédral St. André, Bordeaux], I jotted down some verses from the Bible.

"ORAISONS"

Alto Saxophone:

Opening: "My times are in your hand" Psalm 31:16 [NRSV 31:15]

C: "I love you, Yahweh, my strength, my rock, and my fortress. And my liberator is my God." Psalm 18:3 [NRSV 18:1 - "I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer..."]

Soprano Saxophone:

D: "Hear, O God, my prayer. Do not hide from my supplication, but hear me, and speak to me; I am troubled in my moaning and complaining." Psalm 55:2-3 [NRSV 55:1-2 - "Give ear to my prayer, O God. Do not hide yourself from my supplication. Attend to me, and answer me; I am troubled in my complaint."]

Baritone Saxophone:

H: "I believe in you, Lord." [Source not given]

I: "He makes me to lie in pastures green; he leadeth me beside still waters. He refreshes my soul." Psalm 23:2-3 [NRSV 23:2-3 "He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul."]

Tenor Saxophone:

K: "He defends the lowly. I was weak, and he saved me." Psalm 116:6 [NRSV 116:6 "The Lord protects the simple. When I was brought low, he saved me."]

6 after L: "They murmured against You." [Source not given]

M: "Yahweh is justice and sympathy. God is mercy." Psalm 116: 5 [NRSV 116:5 "Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful."]

N: "They gathered the stones to throw at him." John 8:59 [NRSV 8:59 "So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.Ó]

7 after R: "God spoke once; twice I heard thus: that all power and might be to you, God, Lord of love." Psalm 62:12-13 [NRSV 62:11-12 "Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord."]

T: "To thee be given praise." Psalm 65:1 [NRSV 65:1 "Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion."]

We are scheduled to record next Thursday, November 25, in the afternoon. Hopefully everything will go as planned! I won't forget to inform you of the date of the broadcast.

With best wishes and sincerest admiration,
Your devoted servant,
[J.-M. Londeix]

Translation by Jennie Wood and William Street, University of Alberta

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