Many stirring arrangements of this choral work by Chesnokov have previously been created, but this set of variations sends the original into uncharted new musical territory. While maintaining its dark Russian roots and the integrity of the original melody throughout, Connor takes the original hymn on a fascinating, evolving journey, opening and closing with double reed solos (always cued), and allowing the ensemble to open up with many powerful and poignant moments of musical intensity along the way.