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World Premiere of Mary Finsterer's Auxilium Christianorum and The Lord Ruleth Me in Melbourne

Dec. 23, 2025

Australian composer Mary Finsterer is known for a highly personal and rigorous style that intertwines historically informed musical language with contemporary complexity. Her works—ranging from opera to chamber music and electroacoustic pieces—are often characterized by meditative density and refined formal structures. On December 2 in Melbourne, VIC (Australia), her new work for mixed choir and orchestra, Auxilium Christianorum (Help of Christians), was premiered as part of the Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF).

The monumental commission from the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne was presented by the Trinity College Choir Melbourne and the Melbourne Youth Orchestra, conducted by Brett Kelly.

Finsterer conceived Auxilium Christianorum as a two-part celebration of the joy, unity, and deep faith that defines the Youth Festival: Fanfare: A bright and ceremonial opening that announces the Festival’s spirit of joy and unity. The Latin text is "auxilium christianorum." Processional: This part is devotional and expansive, comprising three continuous movements in ternary form.

The first and third movements of the Processional take up the theme of Bach's chorale Christus, der uns selig macht. This melody traces its origin back to the ancient hymn Patris sapientia, veritas divina. Finsterer extracts a new theme from the first five chords of this historic melody, reinterpreting it in a contemporary harmonic and orchestral language.

The central, second movement offers a striking contrast: drawing upon isolated harmonies from the chorale, it develops entirely new material of an intimate and reflective character. A solo counter-tenor is featured here, whose expressive line evokes both prayer and contemplation. The Latin text of this movement ("O Virgo serena, lux cæli...") reflects a deep trust in the intercessory power of the Blessed Virgin Mary, protector of the Church.

The setting honours the dignity of liturgical tradition while embodying the vitality and hope of contemporary faith.

At the same concert, Finsterer's The Lord Ruleth Me (Dominus regit me) was also premiered by the same participants (choir and orchestra), but also includes the audience/congregation, underscoring its inclusive nature. 

Finsterer, who teaches at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and has won multiple awards (including the Paul Lowin Award), uses this public format to make the meditative depth and formal clarity of her style accessible to a wide audience.

Listen to Mary Finsterer's Stabat Mater (2023):

Stabat Mater/Mary Finsterer/Mel Gibson, pre-recorded narration/Mia Robinson, soprano/Joseph Nolan, organ/
Choir of Trinity College Melbourne/Melbourne Symphony Orchestra/Benjamin Northey, conductor)

To learn more about Mary Finsterer, visit schott-music.com.

Mary Finsterer
Auxilium Christianorum (2025)
Fanfare and Procession for mixed choir and orchestra
10'

The Lord Ruleth Me (Dominus regit me) (2025)
Psalm for David
Hymn for mixed choir, congregation, and orchestra
Text (Eng) adapted by the composer from Psalm 22, Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
5'

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