In Search of the Silent Land

My concept recital/one woman show, In Search of the Silent Land, was inspired by Martin Laird’s meditation book “Into the Silent Land - the Practice of Contemplation”. In today’s vortex of constant distraction, this one-of-a-kind recital experience cuts through the noise by exploring the individual’s journey to finding inner peace through a mixture of classic and contemporary art song. As a guided meditation between artist and audience - this recital experience can be adapted to contemplative art exhibits, church book clubs, as well as a wide variety of meditative spaces.

THE STORY

A big theme in my life this past year has been learning more about the Christian mystics and cultivating a personal practice of meditation. After reading Martin Laird’s “Into the Silent Land - the Practice of Contemplation”, I was inspired to create a recital program that structurally followed Laird's journey through the three doorways one must pass through on the path to inner contemplation. 


The 1st doorway is characterized by general boredom and fidgeting. This will be understood as the pre-recital - everyone entering and establishing the space. To combat a restless mind and enter a space of meditation, Laird encourages use of a prayer word. I have musically interpreted this using a plainsong chant, Domine exaudi, broken up into 4 distinct sections that will bookend each of the song sets and signify movement to the next doorway.


Passing through the 2nd doorway looks like simple awareness, silence, and detachment from thoughts. This will be the first song set titled “Peace in Nature” - made up of classic German Lieder often from the perspective of an observer enjoying nature. 


The second set is not a doorway - but instead our ongoing source of conflict - “The Battle with Intrusive Thoughts”. This grouping of English songs arcs from anxiety and dark inner turmoil, to broken petition, and finally angelic peace.


Crossing the threshold of the 3rd doorway is experienced as loss of self but discovery of your true being. Finally able to detach and co-exist with your thoughts, you look over their shoulder to see God gazing at you. And as this mutual gazing continues in an infinity loop - the reality of your identity as Christ’s own takes prominence. The ineffable qualities of the vastless vast are best captured in French mélodie. This set is simply called the Landscape Within & the Gaze of God. 


Conceptually, this recital strives to release the conventional relationship between audience and performer and create an open space for both to engage with the material in non-traditional ways. This can look like - the performer not always being the sole focus, the audience finding individualized locations in the space to sit, stand, lay - movement or stillness during the experience will be welcome. Printed texts and translations will be provided for those who might want to engage linguistically with the poetry. A projected presentation will provide the translations with accompanying visuals and provided guidance for moments of silence and self-reflection. Candles and incense will be used to engage the senses beyond visual and aural. While all of these are possibilities, the recital can be adapted to different spaces and levels of audience engagement ranging from the full guided, experiential meditation shared between performer and audience to a more standard recital format.


THE REPERTOIRE

Run time: 1 hr


Prayer Word

  • Domine exaudi (Anonymous)

I - Peace in Nature

  • Wanderer’s Nachtlied II (Schubert)

  • Auch kleine dinge (Wolf)

  • Feldeinsamkeit (Brahms)

  • Feldeinsamkeit (Ives)


II - The Battle with Intrusive Thoughts

  • Sea Snatch (Barber)

  • Shadowinnower (Schwantner)

  • Prayer (Adams)

  • Evensong (Lehman)

III - The Landscape Within & the Gaze of God

  • Chanson des cueilleuses de lentisques (Ravel)

  • En Sourdine (Debussy)

  • Au bord de l’eau (Faure)

  • Baïlero (Canteloube)

Listen to the entire recital playlist on Spotify here.

THE ARTISTS

Erin Ridge, soprano & Patrick O’Donnell, piano


THE PERFORMANCE HISTORY

Church of the Resurrection - April 18th, 2024

Church of the Ascension & St. Agnes - TBD May 2024