Monday 28 November 2022

‘Light of the World’ for Violin and Choir Premiered at Advent Carol Service

An original composition inspired by William Holman Hunt’s ‘Light of the World’ was premiered by Greta Mutlu and the Keble College Chapel Choir, conducted by Christopher Bucknall, on the 27 November at the Keble College Advent Carol Service. The piece was written as part of Dr Deborah Pritchard’s tenure as Visiting Fellow.

Deborah Prichard describes the piece: “‘Light of the World’ for violin and choir responds to the painting ‘The Light of the World’ by William Holman Hunt that is on display in the Keble College side chapel. It sets sacred text about light to evoke the gentle radiance of the image through a series of meditative choral evocations. Between each phrase a mysterious violin melody emerges, as if emulating the mind that is about to open, before resolving in an undulating dialogue between choir and violin: the door is finally unlocked.”

The full Advent Carol Service is available to watch on the Chapel’s YouTube Channel, with ‘Light of the World’ at 51:29.