‘In Praise of a Saint’
Commissioned by Congresbury Singers for their Golden Jubilee (2026 – 2027)
for SATB chorus, S,A,T soloists, brass sextet, organ and handbells
A celebration of the life and legend of Saint Congar of Congresbury in six movements (Duration: 30 mins)
There is a variety of musical styles from broad singable melodies to more challenging scales and modes, along with the use of plainchant, ‘organum’ and other medieval compositional techniques. In the final movement ‘Ave Maris Stella’, there is a direct quotation of the 9th century hymn from Monteverdi’s Vespers. Congar was an ‘ascetic’ monk and made a firm decision to practice strict self-denial and gave up physical comforts and worldly pleasures; it was for religious and spiritual reasons that he favoured a simple, bare lifestyle. He wore a hair-shirt as a spiritual discipline to subdue physical desires, do penance for sins, and share in religious suffering. In ‘The Hair of the Saint’ the idea of a dialogue between a crowd, unable to understand the behaviour of a monk who was perpetually scratching and itching, trying in vain to reason with him was instantly humorous and offered the opportunity for light relief:
MONK: (scratching vigorously)
I wear a shirt of horsehair cloth to mortify the flesh! It itcheth like a fury but my spirit grows afresh!I scratch at dawn, I scratch at dusk, I scratch throughout the night. And every time I scratch, good friends, my soul is filled with light!
CHORUS: He says he scratches for his soul! He scratches to be holy! We are not sure that’s how it works but he’s committed, wholly!
Excerpt from ‘The Hair of the Saint’
Listen to it and imagine the final sound!
After learning that the Golden Jubilee of Congresbury Singers would be marked in 2026-2027, there seemed to be a need for a special new work that focused on the village of Congresbury with its history. Voices combined with brass are one of the best combinations for any celebration and the first performance of ‘In Praise of a Saint’ next year on March 20th will take place alongside music by the Italian Early Baroque (Monteverdi and Gabrieli and Schütz). Come and join in!
Congresbury Singers: https://congresburysingers.com/
Jonathan Palmer - Composer 