The Son of the Most High sets a Marian text from Ephrem the Syrian, in an English translation from Syriac. It was written for Michael Tavinor, and first performed in 2004. It is essentially an a capella piece for double choir, with a distant solo quartet, where the soprano soloist (who opens the work) has particular prominence. Archer writes that he "sought a warm and full texture by use of the key of D flat major. The virgin, having given birth to Christ, puts on the mother’s robe, the robe of God’s glory".
It has since been recorded by Wells Cathedral Choir on the Lammas label.
Text:
The Son of the Most High came and dwelt in me, and I became his mother.
As I gave birth to him – his second birth, so too he gave birth to me a second time.
He put on his mother’s robe – his body; I put on his glory.
Ephrem the Syrian (De Nativate 16.11) translated from the Syriac by Sebastian Brock.