In Lucem

Abstract

In Lucem is a synaesthetic choral work written for the Archbishop of Jerusalem, Suheil Dawani and the University of London Church Choir. Parts of the composition were performed in St George’s Cathedral, Jerusalem, the Basilica of the Nativity, Bethlehem, and Southwark Cathedral (all in 2018). In Lucem is concerned with peace and the longstanding troubles in Jerusalem and US President Trump’s inflammatory decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel at the time of writing the work. The final complete revised version of the work was published in 2020. It sets the Latin form of John 1:5 ‘And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it’ – symbolic of Lent and the broader issues in Jerusalem and the Middle East – the darkness and the light. However, In Lucem is not just a Christian or even religious work as darkness and light are key to human experience, with wide symbolic resonances.