Subtitled Women’s Passages, this oratorio by Kay for 6 female soloists, women’s chorus and orchestra is set to exquisite solo texts by Charlie Hutchins (a woman), and powerful chant texts by Ila Suzanne. A live recording of its premiere performance at the 20th National Women’s Musical Festival in Bloomington IN, it is one of the largest-ever classical productions featuring women musicians: 84 voices, 40 orchestra members. Except it’s not classical, in the traditional sense. Performers as well as audience members were often teary-eyed during the performance, they were so profoundly moved. The work celebrates the ages of Woman, with each age corresponding to a holy day on the ancient Celtic calendar (solstices, equinoxes, Beltane, Etc.), is strongly centered in female spirituality, and relates to the birth/death/rebirth cycle. Lush and deeply healing (with music reminiscent of A Rainbow Path), it features stunning performances by soloists interwoven with choral interludes. Kay’s masterpiece; highly recommended!
