Press Releases / Memorial Concert for the Late Dean Desmond Harman

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The former Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, the Very Revd Desmond Harman will be remembered in a special memorial concert in the Cathedral on Thursday 10 July at 8pm. The Choir of Christ Church Cathedral and international tenor soloist James Gilchrist will join forces to perform the iconic 21st century oratorio, "A Cloud of Unknowing" By Francis Pott to commemorate the life of the former Dean.

The piece uses a mosaic of texts in an expression of the human desire for war, juxtaposed with the image of the ultimate sacrifice of Christ on the cross. The centrepiece of the work is a setting of Psalm 23, which offers sanctuary from the rest of the composition.

Grounded by double choir and intensified by the tenor soloist, against a thunderous and potent canvas of organ textures, this is a powerful work. Hailed by Classic FM Magazine as a “monumental, eloquent take on senseless violence and shameful hypocrisy [it] offers a shield to the spirit against those who would destroy it. Unmissable.”

The ideas portrayed in “The Cloud of Unknowing” are exactly in line with the way Dean Harman thought, particularly evidenced in his sermon broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2007:

“Those who meet in Romania [for the European Ecumenical Assembly] will recognise that interfaith conversation is necessary if reconciliation is to replace ethnic confrontation in the future.”

The musical tribute takes place on Thursday 10th July at 8:00pm in Christ Church Cathedral, with no admission charge.

To apply for a ticket, please contact the Administrative Assistant, Sarah Drumm: (Tel) 353 (0)1 677 8099, (Fax) 353 (0)1 679 8991, (email) Christ Church Cathedral. For more information on “The Cloud of Unknowing” please see http://www.francispott.com/compositions

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