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Revelations of Divine Love

for two soprano soloists, mezzo soloist (or SSA choir) and strings

Susannah Self

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for two soprano soloists, mezzo soloist (or SSA choir) and strings

£30.99
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£14.99
£10.49
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Composer Susannah Self
Year of Composition 2022
Duration 25' 30"
Instrumentation 2 Sopranos, Mezzo Soprano, Strings
Forces 2sop, mez-sop, strings
Categories (all composers) ,
Catalogue ID ce-ss1rodl1

Notes

Julian of Norwich created Revelations of Divine Love after a high fever in May 1373. She may have had the Black Death but, unusually, survived. Her philosophy resonates with experiences of those with severe Covid. She also presents concepts associated with the ancient goddess which are concealed under the cover of Catholic doctrine. She suggests a non-patriarchal approach to spirituality and frequently references God as mother. Her numinous experience is presented as wonderment at life’s mystery, and it is this facet that has made her work universally appealing. Composing Revelations of Divine Love presented the question: what does it mean when someone has spiritual visions? Today they could just as likely be regarded as a form of delusion or even narcissistic personality disorder. Yet the reports of experiences of people with severe life-threatening cases of Covid relate to Julian’s situation. Almost certainly Julian expected to die: she was given the last rites but miraculously survived. In Revelations of Divine Love, I work to heighten Julian’s unique experience which promotes an upbeat spirituality full of hope.

During her revelations, Julian suffers the dark night of the soul and an alchemical burning down to white ash which leads to paranoia and rebirth. This relates to the Covid patient in dire circumstances. My own experiences of illness have been intense, such as contracting Bornholm’s disease when I was 14. This rampantly attacks the diaphragm and is accompanied by excruciating shooting pains and extremely high fever. I also experienced a debilitating version of glandular fever at 19 which rendered me unable to even push down one note on the piano. When Covid visited, my dreams consisted of musically tight cells lining up in my body in an orderly way. Subliminally these images seemed to mimic the efficacy of jabs and boosters. It was however Bornholm’s that led to my experience of extreme high fever. Watching Covid patients in extremis, fighting for their lives, is frightening: the suffering, the sudden decline to death even for vigorous young people, the moment of intubation from which there might be no return. Thinking about unplanned death I wondered if there could be any hope in such a situation? With this in mind I find a resonance with Julian who confronted her own mortality so that her understanding of death becomes a positive divinity transforming suffering into psychic healing. Leaving aside religiousness, her message has the potential to comfort so that no matter what happens, all will be well.

Revelations of Divine Love is dedicated to all women.