Lux Aeterna

Otto M. Schwarz was asked by a friend to compose a chorale for the funeral of his child. Lux Aeterna (The Eternal Light) is actually part of the requiem mass, but in this composition, there is no reference to the original Latin text. People who recount near-death experiences often report a bright light. The music moves back and forth between passages that are sad, optimistic, and imploring in nature, posing questions that cannot be answered. The end of the piece comes, however, with a conciliatory major chord that reflects the calm and warmth of this light that promises redemption.