I saw eternity
two SSAATTBB choirs
2017 - 2018

I saw eternity was written as a companion piece to the string quartet Rings of light. It takes it's text from The World by Henry Vaughan, quotes from Mother Theresa of Calcutta as well as parts of psalms 39 & 55. The first performance was given by Londinium chamber choir, conducted by Andrew Griffiths, in February 2019.
TEXT
I saw eternity the other night,
Like a great ring of pure and endless light,
We need to find God. God can't be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, see how they move in silence...
I was silent and still… my anguish increased. My heart grew hot within me … Show me, O Lord… My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death encompassed me. Do not hide thy face from me when I am in distress... Turn thine ear to me; when I call. Show me, O Lord…
I saw eternity the other night,
Like a great ring of pure and endless light,
All calm, as it was bright.
YEAR
2017 - 2018
WORDS
'The World' by Henry Vaughan, quotes from Mother Theresa of Calcutta, extracts from psalms 39 & 55
DURATION
10 minutes
INSTRUMENTATION
two SSAATTBB choirs
PREMIERE
Londinium conducted by Andrew Griffiths, St James’s, Sussex Gardens, 2 February 2019