TO THE FIELD OF STARS
Writtle
Singers at All Saints' Church
20.11.16
The
programming for this enterprising chamber choir has invariably been
interesting and rewarding.
This
concert, taking us from a damp Essex November to the heart of Spain,
was affecting too, reminding us of a time when the church's rites
alone held the keys to heaven, and pilgrimage was an obligation to
which all aspired.
Luis
de Victoria's Officium
Defunctorum, based on the plainchant of the requiem mass, was given
an atmospheric performance in the consecrated darkness of the church,
the polyphony subtly underpinned by the cello of Alastair Morgan. The
central Sanctus was especially moving.
The
Singers, directed by Christine Gwynn, were joined by the cellist, and
by Chris Brice and Nathan Gregory on a variety of bells, for Gabriel
Jackson's To The Field Of Stars, commissioned to mark the 400th
anniversary
of Victoria's death in 2011. Challenging
for the choir, it blends ancient pilgrim hymns with settings of Walt
Whitman and Emily Dickinson – Miracles and Our Journey Has Advanced
– as well as a prayer for travelling, a history lesson [spoken by
bass Andrew Taylor] a murmured evocation of the stars, and at the
last a glimpse of the glorious Basilica of Santiago, using an
elaboration of the motet O Quam Gloriosum which opened the concert.
An
intriguing poetic
reflection on pilgrimage and life's journeys, its elusive melodies
and rich harmonies beautifully handled by the choir. Especially
magical, suspending time for a moment, was the whispered litany of
star names, decorated with tinkling bells and high cello melodies in
a luminous evocation of Compostela, the Field of Stars.
Our
journey had advanced —
Our feet were almost come
To that odd Fork in Being's Road —
Eternity — by Term —
Our pace took sudden awe —
Our feet — reluctant — led —
Before — were Cities — but Between —
The Forest of the Dead —
Retreat — was out of Hope —
Behind — a Sealed Route —
Eternity's White Flag — Before —
And God — at every Gate —
Our feet were almost come
To that odd Fork in Being's Road —
Eternity — by Term —
Our pace took sudden awe —
Our feet — reluctant — led —
Before — were Cities — but Between —
The Forest of the Dead —
Retreat — was out of Hope —
Behind — a Sealed Route —
Eternity's White Flag — Before —
And God — at every Gate —
Emily Dickinson
pilgrim path photograph by Bishop Stephen Cotterell, who recently completed the Camino - his blog here
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