Dear lovers of music, mystery, and meaning,

It’s hard to describe the effect the music had on me — which is sort of the point, isn’t it? — but the ending of Judith Bingham’s Oriel Service Magnificat left me breathless on Sunday night. 

I’ve always admired the haunting complexity of her music, whether singing, playing, accompanying, or conducting — and in the last decade I’ve had the chance to do all four. 

Bingham, like few other composers writing in the last few years, is able to direct her music to our distracted minds and lure us into a sense of sacred otherness. 

The Oriel Service was composed to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the admission of women to Oriel College. And as it happens, we sang the work on International Women’s Day.

Bingham’s music was joined in this same Evensong service with a short piece by Alice Parker, “Peace be within this sacred place.” I regret that I never had a chance to meet Alice Parker.

But I was strongly reminded of learning this piece from a dear mentor and friend, Jack, who is now in home hospice at the end of his life.

To be united with Jack in thought and prayer in this service was yet another special gift. 

Until next week,
-David