Pinsuti Chamber Choir, based in Ilkley and Skipton, has developed an enviable reputation for taking on challenging music, with their concerts featuring the very best of the unaccompanied choral repertoire.
This week they take on what could be their biggest challenge to date, when they perform Joby Talbot’s Path of Miracles on Saturday 12 July at Christ Church in Skipton.
British composer Talbot is best known for his TV and film work, which includes writing the music for The League of Gentleman, and the soundtrack to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. But it is in the classical music world where he is revered for his innovation and creativity, and Path of Miracles is no exception.
The Camino de Santiago is a network of routes leading to the shrine of St. James who according to legend, was laid to rest in Spain. Path of Miracles takes the audience on a musical pilgrimage, reflecting the spiritual and physical journey, tracing the 500-mile route from the French border to Santiago de Compostela and onwards to Cape Finisterre, the ancient western edge of the known world.
The piece recounts the death of St. James and portrays the physical exhaustion of the pilgrim. Some call the second movement “a musical manifestation of blisters”. The third movement, mimicking the incredible colours of León Cathedral’s stained glass, represents the spiritual experience of the journey. While the last movement expresses the pilgrim’s euphoria at reaching their destination, before a final moment of reflection overlooking the ‘edge of the world’ as the pilgrim heads back to their normal life, a changed person.
Path of Miracles is rarely performed by amateur choirs and it’s not hard to see why. Entirely unaccompanied, written in seventeen parts and with numerous tricky solo moments, it would present a huge challenge to any choir. But Pinsuti’s musical director Robert Webb thinks his singers will take it in their stride:
“It’s fair to say the choir was nervous when I suggested taking on this musical masterpiece. It involves nine different languages and dialects, and numerous complex musical styles ranging from 12th century Jacobean chant to vocal techniques used by the Taiwanese Bunun tribe. But they are rising to the challenge and it will sound amazing in the stunning acoustic of Christ Church.”
To make the evening even more special, Pinsuti have entered into a unique collaboration with award-winning projection designer Camilla Tassi. New York-based Tassi has created the visual backdrop to concerts and operas across the USA, including performances of Path of Miracles by The Thirteen and Conspirare. Robert went on to say:
“We are so excited that Camilla has agreed for her stunning projections to accompany our performance of Path of Miracles. This is the first time they will have been seen outside the US, so it’s a great honour, and it will add an extra dimension to the audience’s experience of this epic piece of music.”
Pinsuti Chamber Choir will perform Joby Talbot’s Path of Miracles at Christ Church in Skipton, at 7.30pm on Saturday 12 July. Tickets can be booked at: https://pinsutijuly25.eventbrite.com
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