Credo

When I was asked to write a Credo for The New Consort, I spent some time thinking about what a new mass could achieve if we allowed it to. I am a lover of sacred music, but I wondered how the development of my own faith and beliefs could bloom from this ancient, well-worn structure.

A credo is a belief.

On our first day together, I asked the ensemble to respond to the prompt, “Here is what I know to be true…” Each singer crafted a single sentence and wrote it on a piece of paper that they kept in their pocket during our week of devising. With their personal texts as kernels, we began to unravel a musical form with supportive choral tableaus, offering the soloists a soft bed on which their credos could land.

As a composer, I seek to create a space in which everyone is encouraged to participate and is supported in deep, transformational creativity that blooms from the inside out. I am immensely grateful for the openness and courage of these musicians to devise this choral work with me. Without their creativity and willingness to respond, we would not have this magical work.

“I have what I need. I already contain the universe.” — Haitham

“All life is one.” — Jonathan

“Ordinary kindness is extraordinary.” — Jeff

“I do know there have been times where I have felt blessed and held, whether by God or by the palpable good wishes of other humans.” — Agnes

“The people at the gym who you fear will judge you are way too into their own thing to notice.” — Caroline

“The way out of struggle is through — not to harden and push, but to soften and slip through.” — Brian