De Profundis Aquarum

This new work is part of a project called Acqua Alta, based on the fact that Venice is sinking but also on the destruction of the environment as a whole. It sets passages in Latin from Psalm 68 in the Vulgate in which people plead for salvation from the threat of deep waters and floods. The use of the Psalm is ambiguous in that the pleading ‘me’ can be read to mean ‘Venice’ rather than an individual. During this process, I have relished the opportunity to work with this very fine Scandinavian choir, while also being able to write new music for early music performers once again. Gavin Bryars