Pioneering composer receives a choral premiere at the cathedral

 The Choir of Christ Church Cathedral will sing the world premiere of Gavin Bryars’s “The Single Creation of One Soul” in a service this Sunday at 4pm   

When you hear the term “classical music,” the image that likely comes to mind is of a symphony orchestra playing music by a dead composer such as Mozart or Bach. Or perhaps more charitably: breathing new life and reinterpreting a piece which has been heard many times in many places by many ears.   Gavin Bryars, a noted British composer (who also happens to spend his summers in Metchosin) is a living composer of classical music. And on Sunday, June 12 the young choristers and choral scholars of Christ Church Cathedral will be singing, for the first time, a piece he composed just for them. The eight-minute work, based on a text by 17th century poet Thomas Traherne, was commissioned by choir member Guy Tyrwhitt-Drake. It was due to have its performance in July 2020, but the pandemic struck and everything was put on hold.   

Director of Music, Donald Hunt, will be conducting the choir and organ in the premiere, and has been rehearsing the piece with the young voices. “We are thrilled to be singing this piece in public for the first time. It’s been an invigorating challenge for the choristers and they are excited about the reward of getting to sing it in the context of a service,” he said. “Gavin Bryars’ reputation as a composer precedes him and it is humbling to be the first choir to interpret this score. Our choristers have been working really hard to do this great piece justice.”   

Choral Evensong takes place at Christ Church Cathedral every Sunday at 4pm and lasts about 45 minutes. This meditative act of devotion is almost entirely sung by the choir, open to people of all faiths and none, and free of charge.