EXAUDI by Weeks, J., wo. 03 jun 2015, Van (2015/2015), Spitalfields Music, Londen, Verenigd Koninkrijk

Contemporary vocal group EXAUDI present the world premiere of James Weeks’s Mala punica with instrumental interludes. Mala punica (Pomegranates) is a cycle of musical canons which draws texts and inspiration from the biblical Song of Songs, a lyrical expression of divine love and natural beauty. Each section of the piece crafts an idea from the text into a musical image: a plume of smoke, curling vines, fruiting figs and pomegranates, the intoxication of wine and love. Around this, three new instrumental interludes for a sextet of three strings and three flute construct a sonic garden encountered at dawn, afternoon, and dusk.