Prepare the Way poster

Written by Kent-based composer Phil Hornsey, Prepare the Way is “a modern, gospel-style message of the Christmas story” based on the Biblical accounts of the birth of Christ.  Mixing solo voices and a choir, backed by keys, guitars and percussion, it is an oratorio for the 21st century, taking in diverse musical styles and presenting familiar words in a fresh context.

From the prophecies of his birth (‘For Unto Us’), through the angelic visits(‘Do Not Be Afraid’) to Mary (‘My Soul Glorifies the Lord’) and Joseph (‘Call Him Jesus’) to the revelation to the shepherds and the magi (‘Where Is the One?’), the story of the first Christmas is laid out in alternating arias and choruses.  The whole piece ends with words from the Psalms and a return to the opening theme, a call to prepare the way of the Lord.

A demo recording was produced in the summer of 2008 to help a choir of Kent singers to prepare for Prepare the Way’s premier on 22nd December 2008 at the Ark in Dover.  This premier performance was very well received, and the oratorio will no doubt resurface in 2009 and beyond.

I was involved in workshopping some of the choruses and recording the demo CD, and then participated in the premier performance.  I loved the music from the first time I heard some of it, and get a huge kick from singing many of the chorus pieces, which present the truths which have become perhaps over-familiar from decades of Christmases in a fresh new way which has encouraged me to re-engage with them.

For a flavour of Prepare the Way, here are two tracks selected by the composer.  First, from the demo recording, ‘In Those Days’:

Then a mix of excerpts from the oratorio, Prepare the Way mix: