Lux Æterna

‘Lux Æterna’ was a recent collaboration with the Collegium Musicum at Wesleyan University. The commissioned piece was premiered in May 2023 at the concert, “Gealdorcha, Sung Rituals in Celtic Light and Shadow.” The work was created around the themes of the project, with the score formatted graphically in the shape of a Celtic cross, and featuring imagery from the carvings at Newgrange, the Neolithic Tomb in Ireland which fills with light only on Winter Solstice.

program notes

Faith has been a central part of Ireland’s social and political landscape for thousands of years. Belief in a higher power sustained generations of impoverished settlers faced with relentless oppression and invasion. This ‘lux æterna’ has taken many forms throughout history. These various inflections of the idea of light are woven throughout this piece, which incorporates both medieval and Pre-Christian imagery.

This piece features two texts. One of the texts is an Irish ninth century monastic poem, called ‘The Scribe.’ The title character describes their peaceful experience writing in the shade of the forest, beneath melodious birdsong. The other is taken from fragments of the ‘Lux Aeterna’ text of the Roman Catholic Mass.

The score of this piece is laid out graphically, in a shape that resembles a Celtic Cross. The structure is also constructed from the idea of a spiral, presented in the carvings at Newgrange, the megalithic tomb that fills with light only on the winter solstice. The spiral is intersected by four rays of light, forming the shape of a cross. The interpretation of the work is left to the choir, and the sections may be performed in any order, any number of times. 

The Rays

The rays are performed by the ensemble, utilizing the Latin ‘Lux æterna’ text. The pitch material is derived from a tone row.

The Rings

The rings are performed by soloists, conveying the Irish text through an ornamented modal melody which references the traditional Sean Nós style of singing.

The Hymn

The joyful hymn weaves aspects of both the rings and rays together, as the whole ensemble performs the last two lines of the Irish text, translated as, “Well indeed does the Lord cherish me/As I write with care in the woodland shade.”

The Background

The elements of the background are drawn from the neolithic carvings at Newgrange, a 5000 year old tomb in Ireland, which fills with light every winter solstice.  Each part is given a pitch range, and the singers hum, whistle, or make wind and birdcall sounds in accordance with their personal interpretation of the symbols.

Sketches for the work

Poster from the event