A few words about the Cathedral itself which is a beautiful building, as we waited for the performance to begin I spent some time studying the decoration. Understand that being brought up a Protestant I am used to churches that are somewhat plainer. In the case of the Cathedral every square inch of surface bar the vaulted ceilings is covered in tiny glazed or gilded tiles, there are friezes of Celtic design including shamrocks, along with representations of the saints. The extensive coloured tiles merge into the stained glass of the windows. The effect is truly stunning.
The music, I must admit, is not a piece I m familiar with. It's originally ( I believe ) written as a choral piece in seven oratorios. However last nights performance was in the more modern idiom of seven pieces separated by readings and poetry, all describing the last hours of Christ on the cross.
In the space of the Cathedral the music was breathtaking. The four ladies of the quartet were consumate professionals, the fifth piece where a theme was ' plucked ' on the strings of the instruments was haunting, and the finale of the seventh which describes in musical terms the storm and earthquake that follows Christs giving up of the ghost was the most powerful and violent piece of music I have ever heard a string quartet produce. The whole experience was very moving, the readings from the bible read by the priest and poems read by a layman were very thought provoking and seemed to be a natural interlude between the pieces of music.
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