La Fin du Commencement
New cantata based on the book of Revelation
Thirty years ago, in paralel with the solo albums, a trilogy of cantatas celebrating the birth, passion and life of Christ, based on the biblical text, was composed. Today, a fourth cantata is added to the series, based on the text of the boo of Revelation.
The French title of this book is ‘Apocalypse’ – a word often associated with cataclysm and disaster, but its original meaning is in fact revelation or unveiling.
It is a text filled with imagery, sometimes difficult to interpet, but parts of it seem somehow familiar to us, with references that evoke current events. Scenes of horror and destruction alternate with those of joy and assurance. Some fear that the day will come when all this will become our reality. I rather have the impression that we are already in the middle of it and have been for a while.
But this is only the End of the Beginning
Concerts
The two launch concerts at the Temple du Marais and l’Eglise Protestante Unie de Belleville, in Paris, united choir members from different communities in the Paris region, with soloists, musiciens and a narrator.
What’s next ?
Scores will soon be available for local choirs who would like to perform the cantata With the possibilitéy of professional musicians and soloists being brought in to accompany the choir And maybe the team which prepared these initial concerts could be called upon to sing elsewhere, if there is a demand
The album
Many thanks to all those who participated
Dave Leonard COOKE, instrumental arrangements
Engineers Olivier CHAMARD, Cyril BRATYNA, Mixing, Tony HARRIS, Mastering, David BLACKMAN
Philippe DE POL, narration
Dave Leonard COOKE, piano, Manu ROBILLARD, bass, David ALLEVARD, drums
Olivier CLINE, choir direction in studio
Hannah FEATHERSTONE, Judith FLESSEL-TOTO, Alexia RABE, NAWAL, Louise DEBAECKER, Leslie DELPLANQUE, Marie-Laure KLEVILLE, Eona TOUZET, Jean-Michel BEAUBRUN, Jean-Marc LERIGAB, Ludwig NESTOR, Mathis CAPIAUX, Matthew FEATHERSTONE, Manu VINCENT
Bible texts are taken from la Nouvelle Bible en Français Courant © Société biblique française – Bibli’O