O Sacred Head, Now Wounded

Few hymns capture the pathos and emotion of Christ's Passion as capably as this centuries-old melody.  Jay Rouse has reached deeply into his artistic palette to render a marvelous setting of Hassler's chorale for voices, piano and solo violin.  This is true artistry at every turn. Instrumental interludes, pianistic accompaniment lines, a cappella choral passages, creative interplay between major and minor tonalities, and an echo of J.S. Bach's Siciliano are all brought together in this evocative setting that is a deeply moving return to the scene of the crucified Savior.