Verbum Incarnatum

In the program Verbum Incarnatum a works from Gregorian and Ambrosian tradition of the oldest singing of the Church have been implemented in an unchanged form and summarized with the part of soprano saxophone (mostly improvisations), realized by Paweł Gusnar. The program’s content focuses on the mystery of the Incarnation. A theological base, identical to the Romano-Franconian repertoire, is already visible at the level of selection and arrangement of Gregorian works, as its fundamental and formative layer. Successive parts are connected by comments and prayers referring to the thought of St. John Paul II, to whom the program pays tribute. Saxophone improvisations constitute a kind of contemplation on sung content, the answer to it, like the monastic tradition ruminatio – meditation based on “chewing” sounding words. This way, commonplace (the sphere of profanum) immerses in eternity and transposes everyday experience into the sacred as an attempt to “speak” the language of God using opportunities given by Him. The challenge for the saxophonist is not only the need to play in specific scales (in parts alternatim) and to lead improvisation based on specific formulas in particular works, but also to make it similar to the proper chant’s method of dealing with time and sound (approach to the semiological style where possible) in order to fully join in this prayer of centuries. The instrumental layer of the Verbum Incarnatum program organically correlates with the aesthetics of medieval pattern, retaining its specific kind of emotional and spiritual direction. The aim is to consciously unite both styles, with a creative use of musical potential, to get musical and theological story rooted in ancient tradition, while leading toward new musical horizons. The album was awarded the Fryderyk 2016 award in the Album of the Year category – Early Music.