Ponniah, Ben - The Pigeon Carol

Composer's note:
The poem The Christmas Silence by Margaret Deland, which provides the text for this carol, emphasises quietness and calm, from the ‘hushed pigeons’ to the ‘strange silence’ in the air – I haven’t sung about pigeons in a carol before, so I named this piece The Pigeon Carol! Nature participates in this most sacred of moments, blending the earthly simplicity of the animals with the celestial light of the star. I find Deland’s expression of maternal love particularly touching: ‘Her cheek against the little face.’ The final line knocked me off my feet, with silence transformed into a ‘burst of music, love, and light!’

In my music, the tune and harmony reflect the peaceful simplicity at the start of the poem. I use shimmering chords to paint the “light from one low-hanging star” before a soprano solo captures Mary’s tender love for her baby boy. As the silence turns to joy, the music becomes more flowing and expansive.