13th-16th October 2010 - Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
David has been commissioned to compose an original score and musically direct a production of T.S. Eliot's Murder in the Cathedral in Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, this October. In association with the Oxford Playhouse 'Plays Out' programme, and featuring a cast that mixes professionals with the finest actors from Oxford University, this production is looking to be one of the highlights of the theatre season and has already sold out well in advance of opening night. The immersive blend of Eliot's masterpiece, complete with the original score and stunning interior of the cathedral is bound to be a spectacular setting for the re-telling of a defining moment of English history.
Murder in the Cathedral tells the tale of Thomas à Becket (1118-1170), Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his brutal murder on the fifth day of Christmas, as he struggles with the dilemmas of opposing authority and the temptation of pursuing the cause of martyrdom. The play, which ends with the assassination of Becket at the foot of the cathedral altar, was written during the rise of fascism in Europe in the first half of the twentieth century, and has been interpreted as commenting on the protest of individuals against totalitarian regimes which sought to subvert the ideals of the Church.
Music is to be a central and fully integrated part of this production. Large portions of text normally spoken by the Women of Canterbury is to be sung in various styles that incorporate many different ecclesiastical traditions, to heighten the effectiveness of the setting. The score includes portions of Gregorian chant and the influences of Baroque fugues, French classical dances and Wagnerian leitmotives; as well as more modern techniques such as the tintinnabuli method pioneered by Estonian composer Arvo Pärt. It is being performed by a 14-piece orchestra, plus 11-part female chorus and the mighty Rieger organ, with 8 non-singing principal actors from the 13th-16th October 2010.