Cancion de el Alma: en una noche escura was commissioned by Classical Minnesota Public Radio for the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. I invite you to visit here to peruse the score and listen to the debut performance by the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir (recorded by Classical MPR at Cathedral of St Paul, November 22, 2013).
The text, often referred to as “The Dark Night of the Soul” is one in a trilogy of poems written by 16th century Spanish mystic St John of the Cross. The message of the poem that I found most moving is the idea of allowing the fire that burns in my heart to guide me.
