J.J.Wright
Dark indigo and wine-red painted forms gather around a narrow opening of chalk-colored light.

Music-drama · Choral · Spoken word · Album · February 22, 2023

J.J. WrightMusical director · Composer · Pianist · Album artist

The Passion

A 95-minute music-drama co-created with the Notre Dame Folk Choir, carrying the Passion story through song, spoken word, and collective memory.

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01About the work

Memory becomes a shared act of witness.

The Passion brings Scripture, original poetry, choral music, and spoken word into a two-act music-drama. On Holy Saturday, Jesus’s disciples gather in the Upper Room and retell the events of Holy Thursday and Good Friday, guided by the character of Memory.

The work grew through workshops and retreats with students in the University of Notre Dame Folk Choir and collaborating artists. J.J. Wright served as musical director, composer, and pianist; Tristan Cooley shaped the libretto alongside the students’ creative contributions.

Recorded at the Jerusalem Music Center in May 2022 and produced by Joe Henry, the forty-track album was released on February 22, 2023. In 2023, a fully staged production was directed by Matt Hawkins, with musical direction and compositions from Wright.

People and credits

J.J. Wright
Musical director · Composer · Pianist · Album artist
The University of Notre Dame Folk Choir
Choir · Collaborative creation
Tristan Cooley
Librettist
Franky Rousseau
Composer · Guitar · Sound design
Ike Sturm
Composer · Bass
Lorraine Mihaliak
Chorus master · Assistant musical director
Dominic Mekky
Synthesizer · Sound design
Aubrey Breen
Cello
Joe Henry
Producer
Ryan Freeland
Engineering · Editing · Mixing
Randy Merrill
Mastering at Sterling Sound
Jerusalem Music Center
Recording location · May 2022
Marie Latham · ND MarComm
Original album artwork and layout
Notre Dame Records
Record label

Track list

  1. 01Upper Room2:45
  2. 02Invocation3:04
  3. 03Memory Song2:29
  4. 04Bethany (Oil Overflows)1:42
  5. 05She Washed Him2:44
  6. 06Palm Sunday3:06
  7. 07Come Follow Me0:57
  8. 08He Washed Them1:33
  9. 09Jesus and Peter1:06
  10. 10Footwashing1:33
  11. 11Betrayal1:30
  12. 12Did He Know?1:32
  13. 13Master, Where Are You Going?0:50
  14. 14Love One Another0:40
  15. 15Last Supper (Take This All of You)3:18
  16. 16Transfigured in Gethsemane2:24
  17. 17Garden Song2:47
  18. 18Watch and Pray0:38
  19. 19Lullaby of Grief2:31
  20. 20Jesus Is Arrested1:48
  21. 21Nothing, They Know2:54
  22. 22A Follower Among His Men5:22
  23. 23Peter Song4:22
  24. 24John’s Lament/Mary’s Prayer2:44
  25. 25Claudia’s Appeal1:31
  26. 26Pilate’s Verdict1:34
  27. 27Shouts Fill the Street3:22
  28. 28Given up for You0:57
  29. 29The Burden Light1:34
  30. 30Strangers on the Road2:00
  31. 31Veronica's Song1:32
  32. 32Weep Not for Me2:32
  33. 33Behold, Where Is Your Love’s Light?3:39
  34. 34No Nature in That Sound1:47
  35. 35Mary's Song4:59
  36. 36Be With Me in Paradise2:06
  37. 37I Thirst5:26
  38. 38We Washed Him2:16
  39. 39Holy, Holy Holy1:46
  40. 40Drawn Back to the Table (Through Him, With Him, in Him)3:27