Hour of Stars (2026)
For choir, brass, harp, and percussion
Duration: 15’
Commissioned by the London Symphony Chorus to make their 60th anniversary.
I. Radiance of Eternity
II. Hora Stellatrix
III. O Night!
Hour of Stars (2026) for choir, harp, brass and tuned percussion, consists of three movements, or pieces, and was commissioned to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the London Symphony Chorus. The texts are taken from Amy Lowell’s poetry collection, A Dome of Many-Coloured Glass (1912), which Lowell titled after a line from Percy Bysshe Shelley’s poem, Adonais (1821).
The opening movement, Radiance of Eternity, is a setting of Shelley’s lines, ‘Life, like a dome of many-coloured glass, Stains the white radiance of Eternity,’ as quoted in Lowell’s dedication. The movement begins with delicate harp filigree over expansive, repeated choral and brass lines creating an atmospheric sound-world. The words are fragmented until the line is revealed in full.
This is followed by two movements setting words after two of Lowell’s poems from her collection. The second movement, Hora Stellatrix, meaning Star Hour, is a reflective and warm setting after Lowell’s poem of the same name beginning in acapella choir before it is joined together with brass and harp. The movement expands outwards at its conclusion by repeating the words ‘Hora Stellatrix’ over a prevailing, majestic texture in lower voices and brass reminiscent of a chorale.
The final movement, O Night!, is a setting of words after Lowell’s poem New York at Night. It begins with bold, punchy repetitions and brass interjections creating a bright and spirited sound, before the texture reduces to a soprano line supported by two trumpets. The piece ends with the words ‘this is the hour of stars’ with bell-like figures in harp, brass, and percussion. ©G.E.M.2026