Video Information

• Choir: Phoenix Chorale
• Piece: Hymn to St Cecilia
• Composer:  Benjamin Britten
• Conductor:  Christopher Gabbitas
• Phoenix Chorale
  Christopher Gabbitas, Artistic Director
  
  Composer: Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
  Text: WH Auden (1907-1973)
  
  Performed at 'unCLOUDED day', a concert to celebrate the return of live choral music foll...  morePhoenix Chorale
  Christopher Gabbitas, Artistic Director
  
  Composer: Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
  Text: WH Auden (1907-1973)
  
  Performed at 'unCLOUDED day', a concert to celebrate the return of live choral music following the Covid-19 pandemic.
  
  Soloists:
  Lies’l Hill, soprano
  Nina Garguilo, soprano
  Julia Powers, alto
  Thomas Strawser, tenor
  Christopher Herrera, bass
  
  Learn more about Phoenix Chorale at https://www.phoenixchorale.org
  
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  Video Direction: Andrew Staples
  Sound Engineering: Sound Mirror
  
  I
  In a garden shady this holy lady
  With reverent cadence and subtle psalm,
  Like a black swan as death came on
  Poured forth her song in perfect calm:
  And by ocean's margin this innocent virgin
  Constructed an organ to enlarge her prayer,
  And notes tremendous from her great engine
  Thundered out on the Roman air.
  
  Blonde Aphrodite rose up excited,
  Moved to delight by the melody,
  White as an orchid she rode quite naked
  In an oyster shell on top of the sea;
  At sounds so entrancing the angels dancing
  Came out of their trance into time again,
  And around the wicked in Hell's abysses
  The huge flame flickered and eased their pain.
  
  Blessed Cecilia, appear in visions
  To all musicians, appear and inspire:
  Translated Daughter, come down and startle
  Composing mortals with immortal fire.
  
  II
  I cannot grow;
  I have no shadow
  To run away from,
  I only play.
  
  I cannot err;
  There is no creature
  Whom I belong to,
  Whom I could wrong.
  
  I am defeat
  When it knows it
  Can now do nothing
  By suffering.
  
  All you l...    less