The text for this piece is drawn from two main sources: the traditional Latin "De Profundis" and Oscar Wilde's
work of the same name, his letter from Reading Gaol Prison. I have selected sentences and paragraphs from Wilde's work and the psalm in a way that I feel both highlights thematic parallels between the works, but also places them in a new context.

In addition to this, I have interspersed the Latin with sections from the French and English versions; all three languages mastered by Wilde. I wanted to take advantage of the juxtaposition of the individual characteristics of each language; for me, the ancient ritualistic feeling of Latin, the lyricism of French, the bluntness and connection of the English vernacular.
These characteristics also influenced the way I chose to assemble the text; the foundation of the piece is the opening line

"De Profundis", which is repeated "from the depths" of the choir by the tenors and basses, in the original Latin. Lyric, tender and solo moments appear in French, and emotional high points focus on Wilde's English.

-Oskar Österling, 2023