Symphony of Psalms

Symphony of Psalms with liturgy for Evening prayer

Robinson College Chapel, Tuesday 8 March, 6.30 pm

`It is not a symphony in which I have included Psalms to be sung. On the contrary, it is the singing of the Psalms that I am symphonizing.' --- Igor Stravinsky

Tomorrow instead of our usual Choral Evensong we are doing a liturgical performance of Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms in Robinson College Chapel.  The college musicians contribute a great deal to the life of the Chapel, and in planning their forthcoming repertoire we talked over some of their planned music, and I noticed that the Symphony of Psalms was thought of as a concert piece, rather than as music for worship. We then put our heads together and came up with the idea of a liturgical performance.

In our post-Christian age it is easy to overlook the spiritual significance that sacred works held for their composers. Like many composers before him Stravinsky chose sacred texts not because of the obligations of patronage or the conventions of the time, but following a profound personal engagement with the text. He wished to express something of that spiritual engagement through music, and in doing so to place their spiritual vitality in a contemporary cultural expression. ‘Real tradition is not the relic of a past that is irretrievably gone,’ he said, ‘It is a living force that anticipates and informs the present.’

The raw honesty of the Psalms has inspired their readers for thousands of years. The Psalmists expressed the range of human emotion from delirious joy to utter despair, often giving words to things that seem at first sight to be unmentionable in a religious context – emotions that defy expression, questions it seems impertinent to ask, questions that defy a rational answer. Both in unimaginably tough circumstances, and on the receiving end of undeserved blessing, the Psalmists demand “why?” of God. And even though answers sometimes remain elusive, the Psalms resolve into peaceful or determined acceptance.

Stravinsky begins with a Psalm of lament which reflects the fragility and temporality of human life, and walks close to the edge of despair. The second movement is a Psalm of hope, looking with faith towards the possibility of redemption. And the third movement is unreserved joy, calling people to celebrate God from the heart, with every kind of musical noise.

This liturgy uses readings and prayers drawn from the Book of Psalms to further draw out this movement from despair, through hope, to joy.

We will be joined by members of the choir of Girton College, and their Chaplain, Rev'd Dr Malcolm Guite.  The Stravinsky will be conducted by Alec Frank-Gemmill.

Comments

[Kathryn]

Bummer bummer bummer.
The one place I can't possibly be next Tuesday is Cambridge (well, not strictly true...what I really mean is that I am firmly tied to Ch Kings...but the other sounded better!) and I would so love to be there...
Do you fancy trying the same thing with the Bernstein Chichester Psalms too, one day? If so, please may we have more than half a minute's notice??