"Capturing the joyful anticipation of the Advent season was my primary influence when composing Virga Jesse. Perhaps the most important image of the text is the blooming of the branch of Jesse. This blooming shines forth as the voices gather their strength to sing the brilliant culmination of the first section. The middle section illustrates the restoration of unity as all voices sing a homophonic hymn of peace. The motet's final section illustrates a sense of reconciliation by returning to the opening material to offer one more glorious blossom of choral beauty."-Thomas Juneau