Christopher Churcher
This Shining Night (2023)
for organ
approx. duration: 4 minutes
composed for Tom Bell
Sure on this shining night
Of starmade shadows round,
Kindness must watch for me
This side the ground.
The late year lies down the north.
All is healed, all is health.
High summer holds the earth.
Hearts all whole.
Sure on this shining night
I weep for wonder wandering far alone
Of shadows on the stars.
James Agee (1909-1955)
Programme Note
This Shining Night takes its title from James Agee's poem “Sure on this shining night". Inspired by Susan Pilcher's dramatic night photography, the music traces the journey of an eye adjusting to the night sky, gradually picking out little stars twinkling in the sky above. As the piece unfolds, the organ ' s dynamic power intensifies, conjuring the overwhelming majesty of the cosmos. The piece juxtaposes twinkling motifs, evoking wonder, with deep, resonant chords, suggesting a profound sense of awe in the face of the immensity of the universe. The composition invites listeners to immerse themselves in the image of the night sky, embracing the beauty and insignificance we feel beneath a shimmering sky of stars.
