The melody for this chant is inspired by the humming chorus in Puccini’s Madame Butterfly. When I was a child my mother was in the Metropotlitain Opera chorus - the opera house was a second home for me. At the end of the second act the chorus would go to the side stage in their outdoor coats - this was their last part in the opera. As my sisters and I waited out of the way, the ethereal melody of the humming chorus would envelop us in its magic as we prepared to go home and go to sleep.

This chant is reminiscent for me of The Mercy, which enfolds us in its arms through absolutely everything. The words to the chant are:

We are held in Love, we are one in Love