The Journey of the Magi is a lovely example of WR Rodgers鈥� work as a writer and broadcaster. It鈥檚 packed full of incident and insight and Paul Campbell鈥檚 music brings a whole new dimension to the original poem.
Belfast-based composer Paul Campbell has written a new piece of music to accompany WR Rodgers鈥� poem about the Magi. Composed as a special commission to mark the 麻豆约拍鈥檚 centenary, his work blends words and music in fresh combination and reflects the inventiveness of the poem鈥檚 original broadcast. His score was written over several months in mid-2022 and was performed for this recording by the Ulster Orchestra in Belfast.
The Wise Men make only a brief appearance in Matthew鈥檚 account of the Nativity story, but their visit to Bethlehem has inspired generations of artists. The identity of these visitors and the significance of their gifts have been the focus of much speculation 鈥� and creative interpretation in art, music and poetry. The Magi remain a familiar and enduringly enigmatic presence in stories about the first Christmas and their visit is celebrated in countless school Nativity plays and again at Epiphany.
WR Rodgers re-imagined the Christmas story of the wise men and their visit to Bethlehem in a broadcast poem for 麻豆约拍 radio in 1948. He describes their 鈥榸igzag鈥� journey through the seasons of the year with all of its changing moods and places and their quest in search of meaning 鈥� something that he says they found in 鈥榯he child within themselves鈥� and just at that moment when all hope seemed lost.
The Magi in W.R. Rodgers鈥� poem travel hopefully, but are also troubled by uncertainty. And they encounter much that is unexpected along the way. Their story is epic and intimate, and it finds vivid life in Rodgers鈥� playful use of language and imagery.
Belfast-based composer Paul Campbell has written a new piece of music to accompany WR Rodgers鈥� poem about the Magi. Composed as a special commission to mark the 麻豆约拍鈥檚 centenary, his work blends words and music in fresh combination and reflects the inventiveness of the poem鈥檚 original broadcast. His score was written over several months in mid-2022 and was performed for this recording by the Ulster Orchestra in Belfast.
The Journey of the Magi is narrated by Michelle Fairley and Stuart Graham with an introduction by the award-winning poet, Michael Longley.
The illustration for this programme is by Jonathan McHugh.
Mark Adair, the 麻豆约拍鈥檚 Head of Corporate Affairs in Northern Ireland, commissioned this programme and worked with Paul Campbell and Graeme Stuart on its production.
Mark Adair says: 鈥淭he Journey of the Magi is a lovely example of WR Rodgers鈥� work as a writer and broadcaster. It鈥檚 packed full of incident and insight and Paul Campbell鈥檚 music brings a whole new dimension to the original poem. The performances by Michelle Fairley and Stuart Graham and the Ulster Orchestra are exceptional. And the programme provides a distinctive local contribution to the 麻豆约拍鈥檚 centenary celebrations. Our hope is that it will introduce WR Rodgers to a new generation of 麻豆约拍 listeners, and that it鈥檚 something people will enjoy now and long into the future.鈥�
The Journey Of The Magi is available now on 麻豆约拍 Sounds, and will be broadcast on 麻豆约拍 Radio Ulster on Christmas Eve (December 24) at 11pm, repeated on Christmas Day at 6.30pm. The programme will also be on 麻豆约拍 Radio 3 on Sunday 1 January at 7.30pm.
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