FIRST LIGHT: Steve Richer
Selwyn College Chapel Choir, Cambridge
(prepared by Sarah MacDonald)
Michael Bawtree · conductor
Music of Our Time (JAM's opening season concert)
20 March 2024, 7:30pm
St Bride's Church, Fleet Street, London
www.jamconcert.org
First Light is a celebration of the beauty and transformative power of the natural world, reminding us of the cyclical nature of life and the opportunity for renewal that comes with each dawn. The piece aims to transport the listener right into the midst of a beautiful spring sunrise. The opening chords evoke a sense of stillness and anticipation reminiscent of the calm before the sun appears. As the textures increase, mirroring the emergence of light on the horizon, the building complexity of the harmonies represents the gradual intensification of colours in the sky. The use of a solo soprano personalises the experience to that of the individual viewer, drawing the final conclusion that this wondrous spectacle of the senses was “a special moment just for me”.
First Light
Through misty boughs the sunlight shimmers
Upon the dew of early morn.
The leaves’ transparent costume glimmers:
Their hue a chorus of the dawn.
The dance of rainbows ‘pon the air
Sends reds and violets to my eyes.
Squinting, blinking, standing there,
I drink this moment. Analyse.
That this mere chance of re-creation
I had the fortune there to see,
A blessing made from light’s creation,
A special moment just for me.
Steve Richer was born in Guernsey in 1972, attending Elizabeth College, where he was accepted by an encouraging Music Department onto the GCSE Music course despite not yet being able to play an instrument. During his studies he developed a love of composing. Singing choral evensong in English cathedrals on a school choir tour sowed the seeds of Steve’s passion for choral music, and this eventually inspired him - after a hiatus of many years - to return to his original love of composing. He tested the competition waters by entering the Guernsey Eisteddfod in 2019, winning the composition class, and has subsequently won several more times. He has also had an organ piece, Meditation on Hymn Tune ‘Michael’, published. With a day job in the NHS and no music qualifications beyond GCSE, Steve considers himself very much a keen hobbyist but with aspirations of continually refining his craft to produce works which emotionally resonate with listeners.
Film by Gareth Kay
www.garethkay.co