6 minutes
Text: O nata lux de lumine (O light of light)
Themes: Joy, togetherness, light
Musical material: Soft upper voices in chords, lower voices join in warm ensemble swells
Suitable for: All choirs, or as part of a church service / evensong
"O Nata Lux echoes the mysterious, shimmering harmonies of Thomas Tallis’s work, opening with a wordless section before the text gradually appears, a repeated “of light” creating a glittering texture."
This is a piece about light in all its meanings: brightness, joyfulness, weightlessness.
Taking Tallis’ sacred motet as a point of departure, I wanted to explore the idea of ‘light born of light’. The piece starts as a simple wordless prayer, and slowly - like a gentle sunrise - the text is revealed.
Whilst writing this piece, I’ve been reflecting on the things that pick me up again when I’m feeling dark. Painting, cooking, reading… small joys that spark bright feelings… light born of light…
The music in O NATA LUX is simple and soft. I hope to have captured the inner warmth of doing simple things that you love.
A huge thank you to Patrick Allies for trusting me with this project, and to Bob Allies for commissioning it in memory of Jill Franklin (1945-2023).
First performance: September 13th 2024, St James' Anglican Church, Vancouver, Canada
First UK performance: October 20th 2024, Wigmore Hall, London