COMPOSER’S NOTE

In 2012, I was very pleased to be asked by Decca Records to write a whole album on the theme of angels.  The resulting album – Angel – recorded with the Choir of New College Oxford and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, went straight in at Number One in the UK classical charts.

Factum est Silentium is based on text from the Book of Revelation and depicts the Archangel Michael saving heaven from the serpent.

The sinuous solo violin at the beginning and throughout depicts the serpent as well as creating a mood of majesty and quiet victory.  With the choir gradually joining, a fresh and unusual sound world, almost other-worldly, is created.  In performance, I always envisaged the solo violinist appearing alone before the different sections of the choir process from different points of the performance venue.

Perfect at any time of the year, it works particularly well as a motet to mark the Feast of St Michael the Archangel.