Path of Miracles by Joby Talbot Tenebrae conducted by Nigel Short Path of Miracles by Joby Talbot, a work based on the most enduring route of Catholic pilgrimage, the great Pilgrimage to Santiago, was the first major work commissioned by the award-winning professional vocal ensemble, Tenebrae, in 2005. A pilgrimage in composition, Path of Miracles is a journey, as the four movement titles (Roncesvalles, Burgos, León, and Santiago) are the four main posts along the Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James), a network of pilgrims' ways that lead to the shrine of our patron saint, the Apostle James the Greater, in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain. Using selections from the medieval texts Codex Calixtinus and Miragres de Santiago, and from Roman Catholic liturgy, Path of Miracles incorporates musical styles from the Taiwanese Bunun people to the pilgrims' hymn Dum Pater Familias, and is sung in Greek, Latin, Spanish, Basque, French, English and German. The Times offered high acclaim for "an evocative odyssey," and the work continues to receive glowing praise: Choir and Organ Magazine: "Joby Talbot's ambitious a cappella Path of Miracles is little short of a musical miracle in itself It is a tour de force and absolutely stunning." Meurig Bowen (Director, Cheltenham Music Festival, 2007-2017): "One of the most memorable and moving concert experiences of my life… this was an extremely significant musical and spiritual event in people's lives." Gramophone Magazine: "…epic, mystical quality – charged with the same sacred energy that draws listeners to the music of John Tavener and Arvo Pärt." Classic Melbourne: "This is perhaps the best choral performance I've had the pleasure of experiencing." Described as "phenomenal" (The Times) and "devastatingly beautiful" (Gramophone Magazine), award-winning choir Tenebrae is one of the world's leading vocal ensembles, renowned for its passion and precision. Experience their artistry in the beautiful acoustics of Seattle's St. James Cathedral. Under the direction of Nigel Short, Tenebrae performs at major festivals and venues across the globe, including the BBC Proms, Wigmore Hall, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Rheingau Musik Festival, and Sydney Festival. The choir has earned international acclaim for its interpretations of choral works from the Renaissance through to contemporary masterpieces, and it regularly commissions new music. It has enjoyed collaborations with some of the UK's leading orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, Aurora Orchestra, the Academy of Ancient Music and Britten Sinfonia. Tenebrae has won two BBC Music Magazine Awards and an Edison Classical Music Award, an Opus Klassik Award, and earned a Grammy nomination for its album Music of the Spheres. The ensemble also undertakes regular session work, most recently contributing the vocals for the soundtrack to blockbuster sci-fi movie Avatar: The Way of Water (2022). Alongside its performance and recording schedule, Tenebrae runs a thriving Learning & Connection programme, through which it works with hundreds of children, young people, and amateur singers each year.
