Stillness sets two poems by visionary English artist-writer Cecil Collins (1908–89), from his collection In the Solitude of This Land, reproduced with the permission of Tate.
The piece is shaped as a triptych: ‘I walk in the silent glades of bone’ is bisected and each part is placed on either side of ‘Stillness, stillness./Turn a brown of loneliness’. The outer panels of the work are performed by a small group from within the choir. The central panel is sung by the whole ensemble and is a reworking of the famous madrigal Draw on, Sweet Night by John Wilbye (c1574-1638).
Stillness was first performed by the BBC Singers at St Paul’s Church, Knightsbridge, London, in 2000, as part of the SPNM Anniversary Concert. It was subsequently broadcast on BBC Radio.