OVERVIEW

NOĒMA proudly presents its second headline concert, ‘Those Wounds in the Midst’. It will feature the Hong Kong premiere of To the Hands, a composition by the acclaimed young American composer Caroline Shaw, recipient of the Pulitzer Prize in Music and multiple Grammy awards. Shaw crafted this piece as a direct response to Ad manus from Buxtehude’s 17th-century masterpiece Membra Jesu nostri.

At its core, Shaw’s composition poses the poignant question, ‘What are those wounds in the midst of your hands?’ This motif links the two works, guiding our exploration throughout the programme. Contemporary composers draw inspiration from Renaissance masters, crafting new pieces that dialogue with existing polyphonic writings. Through this juxtaposition of musical interpretations of shared texts, we delve into the concepts of ‘hand’ (representing action) and ‘wound’ (representing consequence). The ‘hand’ also symbolises acceptance, resonating in the texts of In manus tuas and Infelix ego. NOĒMA will be joined by the Cong Quartet in presenting these intertwined themes, promising an enriching evening of music and contemplation.