Presented as a troubadour song telling the story of Christ’s crucifixion, this folk-like octavo is written from the perspective of the tree that became the cross. The harp-like piano accompaniment brings a delicate simplicity to the atmosphere of the piece and stands in deep contrast to the sadness of the text. A good balance of unison and four-part writing makes the note learning easy, freeing the director to cultivate a culture of expressiveness in the interpretation of the work. Splendid!