I am delighted to have been commissioned by Tenebrae as part of the choir’s 25th anniversary celebrations.
Championing new music has always been central to Tenebrae’s artistic vision, and for this landmark season the ensemble has commissioned four new works from a diverse group of composers, united by the theme of journeys and travel. The commissions range from short standalone pieces to larger-scale works and will form part of Tenebrae’s anniversary album, The Journey, as well as being performed internationally throughout the season.
My contribution, Canticles for a Passion, is a substantial multi-movement work setting texts by Angela Leighton. Inspired by the Stations of the Cross, the piece offers a contemporary reflection on the Passion narrative while also connecting to the liturgical origins of Tenebrae’s name and the season with which it is traditionally associated.
The work was written with the individual voices of Tenebrae’s singers in mind. Having sung with the choir as one of its original Associate Artists and previously composed Footsteps for the ensemble in 2016, it has been a particular pleasure to write once again for musicians whose sound and artistry I know so well.
I am immensely grateful to Tenebrae for this commission and look forward to hearing Canticles for a Passion performed as part of the choir’s anniversary celebrations.
The World Premiere performance will take place on Tuesday 23 March 2027 at St Martin-in-the-Fields.