Lux æterna (2019) — Conner David McCain (United States)
Lux æterna originated out of an improvisation I played before my grandfather’s funeral in the fall of 2019. In my preparation for the service, I focused on the ability of music to speak to people in ways that words can’t, and so I challenged myself to simplify my language down to its bare bones, to take my background in chant and write a single line of music that reflected the eternal yearning of those Gregorian tunes while also speaking to the modern man. The title, then, comes not from any direct relation of the “Lux æterna” text from the Requiem Mass to the notes on the page, but rather as a more abstract inspiration, opening a window, however small, of that eternal light which tells of a world beyond.
The title also references another inspiration for the piece: environmental healing. My grandfather was a petroleum engineer, and, while his research was well-revered in that community, it undoubtably perpetuated a cycle of exploiting natural resources. My desire in this work is not to apologize for his actions, but rather to pray for the light of truth to shine on the complex realities of our environment and our world. The Requiem Mass is nothing more than an organized prayer for healing, both for the dead and the living, both for mankind and for the earth. My Lux æterna draws life and energy from this same wellspring, speaking to those not in a church, but in a concert hall, mourning what has been lost, acknowledging the darkness in the world. But not remaining there. No: Praying, hoping for peace and light.
Conner David McCain is a New York-based composer and a PhD Candidate in Music Composition at the University of Aberdeen. His music is influenced by the austere coherence and spiritual power of Gregorian chant and also the emotional directness and simplicity of popular music.
He holds an MMus from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. and an MA in Philosophy from the University of St. Andrews in St. Andrews, Scotland. His works have been performed all over the world by ensembles such as Voces8 and the Red Note Ensemble, and he has participated in festivals and masterclasses in Italy, Scotland, and across the United States. He is also active as an organist and church music director in upstate New York.
Ann DuHamel 