Shakespeare: Sonnet LXV
This sonnet is an influential poem about the destructive power of Time. The speaker mourns time’s relentless power to destroy all things, from the strongest materials like brass and stone to the most fragile, such as beauty and love. Nothing escapes decay, as even the vast sea and impenetrable rocks eventually succumb to time. Fragile phenomena like love and beauty seem especially doomed, compared to fleeting images like summer’s breath or a spring flower.
However, the speaker finds hope in the enduring power of poetry. While all else fades, poetry can defy time, preserving love and beauty within its “black ink”; for future generations. Through this, the speaker suggests that while human life is temporary, poetry is immortal, carrying love’s essence forward.
The text is deconstructed by the chorus, which sings over an actor reciting the poem.
Since brass, nor stone, nor earth, nor boundless sea
But sad mortality o’er-sways their power,
How with this rage shall beauty hold a plea,
Whose action is no stronger than a flower?
O, how shall summer’s honey breath hold out
Against the wrackful siege of batt’ring days,
When rocks impregnable are not so stout,
Nor gates of steel so strong, but time decays?
O fearful meditation! where, alack,
Shall time’s best jewel from time’s chest lie hid?
Or what strong hand can hold his swift foot back?
Or who his spoil of beauty can forbid?
O, none, unless this miracle have might,
That in black ink my love may still shine bright.
Full EP Whitacre & Clyne: Songs in Surround out March 28
With this release, the Vlaams Radiokoor sets a new standard in immersive listening experiences. Dolby Atmos, developed by industry leader Dolby, offers unparalleled sound quality—bringing every vocal detail and musical nuance to life. In collaboration with the specialists at Motormusic, the choir embraces this groundbreaking technology, offering listeners an entirely new dimension of musical experience.
On January 24, the first single, Anna Clyne: Pocket Book LXV, will be released in this cutting-edge sound format. The full EP, Whitacre & Clyne: Songs in Surround, follows on March 28.
This premiere recording features works by composers Anna Clyne and Eric Whitacre, meticulously captured with 3D sound in mind. In the renowned acoustics of AMUZ in Antwerp, the choir was positioned in a circular setup, while carefully placed microphones recorded not just the harmonies but also the height and depth of the space—allowing the listener to feel as if they are standing within the choir itself.
With this innovative release, the Vlaams Radiokoor once again demonstrates its commitment to artistic innovation and excellence. As an advocate for new music and pioneering repertoire, the choir—together with Motormusic—delivers an immersive experience that reveals the very essence of music like never before. This fusion of cutting-edge technology and classical craftsmanship marks a major milestone in the evolution of immersive audio in classical music.