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Songs of Transcendence: Histories of Becoming
A choral celebration of Trans lives
Saturday 11 April, 6pm
Queerscore, Hoxton Hall
Conducted by
Jamie Powe
Developed by
Harrison Knights, Hope Heaven, Adele Julier, Séamus Rea
Narrated by
Harrison Knights & Adele Julier
Queerscore Festival developed and directed by
Jess Walker and Sholto Biscoe
Saturday 11 April, 6pm
Queerscore, Hoxton Hall
Conducted by
Jamie Powe
Developed by
Harrison Knights, Hope Heaven, Adele Julier, Séamus Rea
Narrated by
Harrison Knights & Adele Julier
Queerscore Festival developed and directed by
Jess Walker and Sholto Biscoe
MUSIC
Ego flos campi
Clemens Non Papa (1510–1555)
Text from the Song of Songs
I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.
As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.
A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.
Nigra sum
Michael Bussewitz-Quarm (b. 1971)
Text from the Song of Songs
I am black and beautiful,
Daughters of Jerusalem,
Like the tents of Kedar,
Like the curtains of Solomon.
Do not stare because I am dark,
Because the sun has changed my colour.
My mother’s sons fought against me;
They made me keeper of the vineyards.
Rise up and come, my love,
For now the winter is past,
The rain is over and gone.
Flowers have appeared in our land.
Alleluia.
Trois beaux oiseaux du Paradis
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
Three lovely birds from Paradise
My belov'd is to the fighting gone
Three lovely birds from Paradise
Have flown along this way.
The first was bluer than Heaven's blue
My belov'd is to the fighting gone
The second white as the fallen snow
The third was wrapt in bright red glow.
Ye lovely birds from Paradise
My belov'd is to the fighting gone
Ye lovely birds from Paradise
What bring ye then this way?
I bring to thee a glance of azure
Thy belov'd is to the fighting gone
And I on fairest snow white brow
A fond kiss must leave, yet purer still.
Thou bright red bird from Paradise
My belov'd is to the fighting gone
Thou bright red bird from Paradise
What bringest thou to me?
A faithful heart all crimson red,
Thy belov'd is to the fighting gone
Ah! I feel my heart glowing cold…
Take it also with thee.
Hope is the things with feathers
Pax Ressler (b. 1989)
Text by Emily Dickinson
“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -
And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -
And sore must be the storm -
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm -
I’ve heard it in the chillest land -
And on the strangest Sea -
Yet - never - in Extremity,
It asked a crumb - of me.
Give orange me
Courage Barda (b. 2003)
Text by Nim Chimpsky and Courage Barda
Give orange me give eat orange me eat orange give me eat orange give me you.
Here you are, an orange.
Eat it up, dear Chimpsky.
I give to you an orange.
Eat it up, dear Chimpsky.
How do you keep the music playing?
Michel Legrand (1932–2019), arr. L’Estrange
How do you keep the music playing?
How do you make it last?
How do you keep the song from fading too fast?
How do you lose yourself to someone
And never lose your way?
How do you not run out of new things to say?
And since you know we're always changing
How can it be the same?
And tell me how year after year
You're sure your heart won't fall apart
Each time you hear his name?
I know the way I feel for you is now or never
The more I love
The more that I'm afraid
That in your eyes I may not see forever
If we can be the best of lovers
Yet be the best of friends
If we can try with every day to make it better
As it grows
With any luck then I suppose
The music never ends
Let My Love be Heard
Jake Runestad (b. 1986)
Text by Alfred Noyes
Angels, where you soar up to God’s own light,
Take my own lost bird on your hearts tonight;
And as grief once more mounts to heaven and sings,
Let my love be heard whispering in your wings.
Ego flos campi
Clemens Non Papa (1510–1555)
Text from the Song of Songs
I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.
As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.
A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.
Nigra sum
Michael Bussewitz-Quarm (b. 1971)
Text from the Song of Songs
I am black and beautiful,
Daughters of Jerusalem,
Like the tents of Kedar,
Like the curtains of Solomon.
Do not stare because I am dark,
Because the sun has changed my colour.
My mother’s sons fought against me;
They made me keeper of the vineyards.
Rise up and come, my love,
For now the winter is past,
The rain is over and gone.
Flowers have appeared in our land.
Alleluia.
Trois beaux oiseaux du Paradis
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
Three lovely birds from Paradise
My belov'd is to the fighting gone
Three lovely birds from Paradise
Have flown along this way.
The first was bluer than Heaven's blue
My belov'd is to the fighting gone
The second white as the fallen snow
The third was wrapt in bright red glow.
Ye lovely birds from Paradise
My belov'd is to the fighting gone
Ye lovely birds from Paradise
What bring ye then this way?
I bring to thee a glance of azure
Thy belov'd is to the fighting gone
And I on fairest snow white brow
A fond kiss must leave, yet purer still.
Thou bright red bird from Paradise
My belov'd is to the fighting gone
Thou bright red bird from Paradise
What bringest thou to me?
A faithful heart all crimson red,
Thy belov'd is to the fighting gone
Ah! I feel my heart glowing cold…
Take it also with thee.
Hope is the things with feathers
Pax Ressler (b. 1989)
Text by Emily Dickinson
“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -
And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -
And sore must be the storm -
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm -
I’ve heard it in the chillest land -
And on the strangest Sea -
Yet - never - in Extremity,
It asked a crumb - of me.
Give orange me
Courage Barda (b. 2003)
Text by Nim Chimpsky and Courage Barda
Give orange me give eat orange me eat orange give me eat orange give me you.
Here you are, an orange.
Eat it up, dear Chimpsky.
I give to you an orange.
Eat it up, dear Chimpsky.
How do you keep the music playing?
Michel Legrand (1932–2019), arr. L’Estrange
How do you keep the music playing?
How do you make it last?
How do you keep the song from fading too fast?
How do you lose yourself to someone
And never lose your way?
How do you not run out of new things to say?
And since you know we're always changing
How can it be the same?
And tell me how year after year
You're sure your heart won't fall apart
Each time you hear his name?
I know the way I feel for you is now or never
The more I love
The more that I'm afraid
That in your eyes I may not see forever
If we can be the best of lovers
Yet be the best of friends
If we can try with every day to make it better
As it grows
With any luck then I suppose
The music never ends
Let My Love be Heard
Jake Runestad (b. 1986)
Text by Alfred Noyes
Angels, where you soar up to God’s own light,
Take my own lost bird on your hearts tonight;
And as grief once more mounts to heaven and sings,
Let my love be heard whispering in your wings.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Thank you for joining us this evening - we'd love to see you at our upcoming concerts later this year!
Thank you for joining us this evening - we'd love to see you at our upcoming concerts later this year!
Sunday 26 April, 6:30pm
Verdi: Requiem & Powe: Gun Mass, Cadogan Hall
Jamie Powe conducts four London choirs in singing Verdi’s epic masterpiece and his own poignant Gun Mass.
Sold out
Saturday 6 June, 7:30pm
A Requiem for Those Who Had None, Southwark Cathedral
A poignant programme commemorating martyrs of the LGBTQ+ community featuring Victoria's 1605 Requiem.
Verdi: Requiem & Powe: Gun Mass, Cadogan Hall
Jamie Powe conducts four London choirs in singing Verdi’s epic masterpiece and his own poignant Gun Mass.
Sold out
Saturday 6 June, 7:30pm
A Requiem for Those Who Had None, Southwark Cathedral
A poignant programme commemorating martyrs of the LGBTQ+ community featuring Victoria's 1605 Requiem.
Monday 13 July, 7:00pm
Invisible Rainbows, Wilton's Music Hall
A celebration of queer creators from the jazz and pop world of the 50s to the 80s with cabaret legend Barb Jungr.
Saturday 31 October, 7:00pm
Hallowe'en Concert, venue TBA
Celebrate spooky season in style with an atmospheric programme of autumnal, gothic and horror-inspired choral masterpieces.
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Sunday 13 December, 5:00pm
Music for a Winter's Night, St Clement Danes
The Fourth Choir's annual festive extravaganza, with exquisite seasonal harmonies, mince pies and mulled cider.
Subscribe to our newsletter for updates when tickets go on sale
