James Whitbourn

The Seven Heavens

The Seven Heavens - The Life Of C. S. Lewis In The Planets Of The Middle Ages is a work by James Whitbourn for SATB Chorus and Orchestra. The piece was commissioned by the Belfast Philharmonic Society on the occasion of their 140th Anniversary Season 2014-5, and first performed in the Ulster Hall on 30th May 2015 by Belfast Philharmonic Choir. The work lasts around 31 minutes and this is the Vocal Score. This Vocal Score is compatible with both the Orchestral version and the Chamber Ensemble version. The libretto is a 'musical portrait of C. S. Lewis', viewed through the lens of the seven heavens of the pre-Copernican model of the solar system, in which Lewis had a deep interest. The seven movements follow these seven planets, which also correspond to the days of the week, telling the story of Lewis's life. The text itself is drawn from a variety of sources, including the Orphic hymns, Psalms, Shakespeare, Shelley, C. S. Lewis himself, and others.