SMATBB unaccompanied (c. 6:00)

Robert Lax’s poem, The Circus of the Sun, uses an allegorical traveling circus to retell the biblical Creation story. Drawn from his own experiences as a circus performer, it likens the phases of a circus show (set up, rehearsal, performance, take down) to the phases of Creation. In the first section of the poem, titled "Morning," Lax describes the first day of Creation as a circus crew setting up for the day. Much like the circus performers who labor in love to make each show special, so too is Creation a labor of love for the Creator: "Love made a sphere, and all things grew within it." By combining the ancient Creation story and the unique imagery of a circus, Lax marries old and new to devise something entirely singular. In this piece, I use the centuries-old framework of the 6-voice motet—frequently employed by composers of the late Renaissance and early Baroque—and infuse it with contemporary harmonies, syncopation, and other modern compositional approaches. My goal, like Lax, is to offer a new perspective on the well-known Creation story.

Premiered by Choral Arts Initiative. Brandon Elliott, Artistic Director. (November 9th, 2025)