Listen to Norman Harper performing Lucis Creator on 14th October 2006 at St John the Evangelist, Islington

Lucis Creator (2003)

This organ piece is based on the plainchant of the same name that provides all the musical material. In the opening section a series of free elaborations of the chant are projected against a slow moving homophonic background. These rise to the first climax of the piece after which there is a short linking section in which a series of chords emerge like a string of lanterns lighting up their surroundings. The music then builds-up again this time with the chant variations below the chordal background and a hesitant pedal ostinato unpinning everything. In the final triumphant conclusion the plainchant is heard in the pedals against a free-flowing joyful counterpoint. Lucis Creator was commissioned by Norman Harper, who premiered the piece in the chapel of King’s College, Cambridge in October 2005.

Duration: 7 minutes
Available from: the composer
Price: £4.50