The Mysteries: Music and Poetry
(Palm Sunday – Sunday 24th March 2024 at 7pm)
When watching live, you can increase the quality of the video to 720p by pressing the ‘settings cog’ button on the video menu. You can also unmute and change the volume.
The Mysteries: Music and Poetry
The poetry of Ruth Padel and cellist Adrian Bradbury playing some of Bach’s sublime Cello Suites lead us into Holy Week and Easter.
Ruth Padel’s fifteen new poems follow the shape of prayers in the Rosary. First five Joyful Mysteries, addressing Christ’s birth; then five Sorrowful Mysteries, following his Passion; and finally five Glorious Mysteries of Christ’s resurrection. But also the story of Mary, for the poems ask us to follow her experience in particular – as a girl surprised by an Angel into motherhood, grief, loss, and finally Resurrection. Tonight, these poems partner the music of Bach. Not music from his Passions but the more individual and intimate music of his Cello Suites, I and V, which are shrouded in mystery themselves, unknown for two hundred years after their composition. This evening is a hauntingly beautiful conversation or prayer between Bach, cello, and poet leading us on a spiritual journey from joy to tragedy and ending in jubilation.
Ruth Padel Poet
Adrian Bradbury Cellist
You may also like
Parish Eucharist (09.03)
Parish Eucharist on Sunday 9th March, 2025, the First Sunday of Lent. With Presider and Preacher Revd Catherine Duce.
Bread for the World on Ash Wednesday (05.03)
Join us here online or in person in St Martin-in-the-Fields for Bread for the World, an informal Eucharist led by Revd Richard Carter with a reflection from Revd Angela Sheard.
Contemplative Prayer (01.03)
Nazareth Contemplative Prayer on Saturday 1st March 2025 with Revd Richard Carter, in Regent’s Park, London.
In Every Corner Sing (24.02)
A new service of word and music with a focus on global themes on Mondays at 1pm during term-time, featuring beautiful singing from our choral scholars. Everyone is warmly invited to attend.
Morning Song (21.02)
Sung Morning Prayer led by Maddie Naisbitt with music performed by the Choral Scholars of St Martin-in-the-Fields, directed by Olivia Tait.
Contemplative Prayer (08.03)
Nazareth Contemplative Prayer on Saturday 8th March 2025 with Revd Catherine Duce, at Alexandra Palace, London.
In Every Corner Sing (03.03)
A new service of word and music with a focus on global themes on Mondays at 1pm during term-time, featuring beautiful singing from our choral scholars. Everyone is warmly invited to attend.
Morning Song (28.02)
Sung Morning Prayer led by Jolley Gosnold with music performed by the Choral Scholars of St Martin-in-the-Fields, directed by Olivia Tait.
Sermon (23.02)
A sermon preached at St Martin-in-the-Fields on Sunday 23rd February 2025, the Second Sunday before Lent, with Revd Angela Sheard.
Great Sacred Music: John Henry Newman (20.02)
A sequence to speak to heart, head and soul, exploring through songs and readings the great classical music of our religious heritage.
Morning Song (07.03)
Sung Morning Prayer led by Revd Catherine Duce with music performed by the Choral Scholars of St Martin-in-the-Fields, directed by Olivia Tait.
Sermon (02.03)
A sermon preached at St Martin-in-the-Fields on Sunday 2nd March 2025, the Sunday before Lent, with Revd Richard Carter.
Great Sacred Music: The Lord is my shepherd (27.02)
A sequence to speak to heart, head and soul, exploring through songs and readings the great classical music of our religious heritage.
Parish Eucharist (23.02)
Parish Eucharist on Sunday 23rd February, 2025, The Second Sunday before Lent. With Presider Revd Richard Carter and Preacher Revd Angela Sheard.
Bread For The World (19.02)
Join us here online or in person in St Martin-in-the-Fields for Bread for the World, an informal Eucharist led by Revd Richard Carter
with a reflection from Revd Angela Sheard.
Great Sacred Music: A Journey into Lent (06.03)
A sequence to speak to heart, head and soul, exploring through songs and readings the great classical music of our religious heritage.
Parish Eucharist (02.03)
Parish Eucharist on Sunday 2nd March, 2025, The Sunday before Lent. With Presider Revd Angela Sheard and Preacher Revd Richard Carter.
Bread for the World (26.02)
Join us here online or in person in St Martin-in-the-Fields for Bread for the World, an informal Eucharist led by Revd Catherine Duce with a reflection from Revd Richard Carter.
Contemplative Prayer (22.02)
Nazareth Contemplative Prayer on Saturday 22nd February 2025 with Revd Catherine Duce, in the Royal Foundation of St Katherine, Limehouse London.
In Every Corner Sing (17.02)
A new service of word and music with a focus on global themes on Mondays at 1pm during term-time, featuring beautiful singing from our choral scholars. Everyone is warmly invited to attend.