Seaming To voice
Irini Arabatzi voice
Arun Ghosh clarinet, keyboards, guitar
Mieko Shimizu keyboards, harmonium, vocals
Camilla George alto saxophone
Ruth Goller electric bass
Davide Mantovani double bass
Sarathy Korwar drums, percussion
Award-winning clarinettist and composer Arun Ghosh presents a spiritual jazz setting of St. Francis of Assisi’s sublime and beautiful prayer, The Canticle of the Sun.
Written in the Umbrian dialect in the 13th Century, The Canticle of the Sun expresses St. Francis’ all-encompassing love for the natural world, and for humanity. His flowing verses call out in praise of our Celestial world: the Sun, the Moon and the Stars; our natural elements; Air, Water, Fire and Mother Earth; and the universal themes of Love, Devotion, Death and Peace.
Set across ten songs, Arun’s electro-acoustic reimagining of The Canticle of the Sun is mystical and joyful, contemporary and ancient. Pure and other-worldly vocal melodies soar over the eight-piece ensemble’s pulsating, hypnotic rhythms, searching harmony and meditative ambient textures, revealing a transcendental sound world.
Sung in St. Francis’ original Umbrian text, alongside a chanted English translation, this is passionate, heartfelt and all-embracing new music; a love-song to life, nature and the Universe.
Produced by Sound UK. Co-commissioned by Norfolk & Norwich Festival.
Funded by Arts Council England and PRS Foundation.
