Work of the Week – Mary Finsterer: Auxilium Christianorum

By Christopher Peter
30 Nov 2025

The composer Mary Finsterer is in a portrait. She is wearing a dark, glossy jacket, and her gaze is directed to the side. The blurred background shows warm orange and green tones, suggesting a nighttime scene with lights.

The 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, 2025, in Melbourne, VIC (Australia), her new work for mixed choir and orchestra, Auxilium Christianorum (Help of Christians), will premiere as part of the Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF).

From Bach's Chorale to Contemporary Hope: Mary Finsterer's New Work for the Australian Youth Festival

The monumental commission from the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne will be 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.

Two Parts, One Spiritual Journey

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.

A Double Premiere in Melbourne

In the same concert, another of Finsterer’s choral works will premiere: The Lord Ruleth Me (Dominus regit me). This piece will be performed by the same participants (choir and orchestra), but also includes the audience/congregation, underscoring its inclusive nature. Although Auxilium Christianorum is our primary "Work of the Week," this double premiere highlights Finsterer’s central role in the Australian music scene.

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.