De Algunos Canciones de Juan de la Cruz. This work was commissioned by the BBC for the 10th anniversary of the BBC Northern Singers in 1975. 'Dos Coros is a setting for voices of two poems by the 16th centurySpanish mystic St John of the Cross. St John is widely considered to be the greatest of the Spanish mystic poets because he comes closest to expressing what is usually considered to be inexpressible - mystical experience. Hispoetry is all about the intense excitement of the union with God but paradoxically the word God is rarely used and not at all in the two poems set here. Another paradox is that he is able to express great serenity by employingthe imagery of rushing water flight and even drunkenness. If mystical experience is near impossible to convey in words then maybe it is natural that many composers have taken up the challenge of conveying it in their ownmedium.' Geoffrey Burgon
