beati qui esuriunt
for satb divisi voices unaccompanied
beati qui esuriunt is a reflection on hunger. hunger manifests itself in our lives every single day. hunger can be physical, emotional, or spiritual. one can hunger for grain the same way they hunger for love. hunger is felt by people in positions of power and privilege and by those who are marginalized, oppressed, and starved.
this work engages with socio-cultural power structures through the use of latin and the refraction of compositional styles popular in early church choral music. the relationship between spiritual fulfillment and literal sustenance will present itself differently to every person, much in the same way that hunger itself presents differently to every person.
on a more personal note, i began this work to reflect on my own experiences in eating disorder recovery. i had not felt hunger (a real, physical side-effect of some eating disorders) in years. as i wrote this work, my hunger began to return, and i have truly begun to learn how to fulfill myself.
hunter t. johnson 