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- Cheryl Frances-Hoad
In the Crypt of the Wood (2015)
- Cadenza Music (World)
Commissioned by Opus Anglicanum, and premiered at St James's Church, Chipping Campden on 14th March 2015, followed by a performance at Wells Cathedral on 17th April.
Programme Note
Commissioned by Opus Anglicanum and premiered by the group at St. James’ Church, Chipping Campden on 14th March 2015.
In the Crypt of the Wood was commissioned by Opus Anglicanum, and premiered at St. Jamesʼs Church, Chipping Campden on the 14th March 2015, followed by a performance at Wells Cathedral on the 17th April.
The piece was written to be included in OAʼs The Tree of Life programme, and inspired by sources such as David Jonesʼ pencil and gouache work Vexilla Regis, the Latin hymn of the same name, Jonesʼ poetry (most notably In Parenthesis) and various ancient texts. Many of these sources were suggested to me by John Rowlands-Pritchard, who I am very grateful to for among other things introducing me to the work of Jones, and being endlessly encouraging as I scoured ancient sources for tree references and put together a ʻpoemʼ of found words.
I imagine this work as if taking place inside the forest of Jonesʼ Vexilla Regis picture, perhaps as a kind of prayer to one, many or no gods upon a return from war, with the strains of the Vexilla Regis hymn heard as if carried over the breeze from a place of distant worship.
© Cheryl Frances-Hoad, January 2015
Text:
Vexilla regis prodeunt. (The banners of the king advance.)
In the crypt of the wood,
A tall tree I know stands,
Showered with shining loam.
Fulget crucis mysterium. (The mystery of the cross shines forth).
From there comes the dew,
That drops in the valleys.
The greenest of trees.
Splendid are its branches,
and gloriously adorned.
Quo carne carnis conditor. (Upon it Life did death endure).
Most wondrous tree wound round by light
Fairest of trees.
Rest yourselves under the tree,
Arbor decora et fulgida, (O beautiful refulgent tree
Ornata regis purpura. (Adorned with the purple of a king).
That tree of which no man knows
Where its roots run.
The old tree groans.
Salve ara, salve victima. (Hail, alter, and hail, victim)
Now you may know what I have endured
Of sore sorrows.
De passionis gloria, (Because of the glory of the passion)
Qua vita mortem pertulit. (In that passion life endured death)
Et morte vitam reddidit. (And by dying gave back life.)
For if they do these things when the tree is green,
What will happen when it is dry?
The Lord’s rood, that gallows tree for mankind’s sin,
From this loaned life will fetch me away,
And bring me then where is much bliss.
English text sourced from The Bible (Genesis and Luke), Voluspa and Havamal (from The Poetic Edda), The Dream of the Rood, Norwegian and Anglo Saxon Rune poems, and David Jones In Parenthesis (first line only). The Latin text is formed of excerpts from the Vexilla Regis (The Holy Cross) hymn.
In the Crypt of the Wood was commissioned by Opus Anglicanum, and premiered at St. Jamesʼs Church, Chipping Campden on the 14th March 2015, followed by a performance at Wells Cathedral on the 17th April.
The piece was written to be included in OAʼs The Tree of Life programme, and inspired by sources such as David Jonesʼ pencil and gouache work Vexilla Regis, the Latin hymn of the same name, Jonesʼ poetry (most notably In Parenthesis) and various ancient texts. Many of these sources were suggested to me by John Rowlands-Pritchard, who I am very grateful to for among other things introducing me to the work of Jones, and being endlessly encouraging as I scoured ancient sources for tree references and put together a ʻpoemʼ of found words.
I imagine this work as if taking place inside the forest of Jonesʼ Vexilla Regis picture, perhaps as a kind of prayer to one, many or no gods upon a return from war, with the strains of the Vexilla Regis hymn heard as if carried over the breeze from a place of distant worship.
© Cheryl Frances-Hoad, January 2015
Text:
Vexilla regis prodeunt. (The banners of the king advance.)
In the crypt of the wood,
A tall tree I know stands,
Showered with shining loam.
Fulget crucis mysterium. (The mystery of the cross shines forth).
From there comes the dew,
That drops in the valleys.
The greenest of trees.
Splendid are its branches,
and gloriously adorned.
Quo carne carnis conditor. (Upon it Life did death endure).
Most wondrous tree wound round by light
Fairest of trees.
Rest yourselves under the tree,
Arbor decora et fulgida, (O beautiful refulgent tree
Ornata regis purpura. (Adorned with the purple of a king).
That tree of which no man knows
Where its roots run.
The old tree groans.
Salve ara, salve victima. (Hail, alter, and hail, victim)
Now you may know what I have endured
Of sore sorrows.
De passionis gloria, (Because of the glory of the passion)
Qua vita mortem pertulit. (In that passion life endured death)
Et morte vitam reddidit. (And by dying gave back life.)
For if they do these things when the tree is green,
What will happen when it is dry?
The Lord’s rood, that gallows tree for mankind’s sin,
From this loaned life will fetch me away,
And bring me then where is much bliss.
English text sourced from The Bible (Genesis and Luke), Voluspa and Havamal (from The Poetic Edda), The Dream of the Rood, Norwegian and Anglo Saxon Rune poems, and David Jones In Parenthesis (first line only). The Latin text is formed of excerpts from the Vexilla Regis (The Holy Cross) hymn.