Cosmographia
Description
Research
Translation

Cosmographia is the name of an extraordinary creation poem written by Bernardus Silvestris in twelfth-century France. It is also the name of a new oratorio emerging from the collaboration of composer John McDowell and conductor/librettist Fabian Lochner.

Bernardus Silvestirs's Cosmographia is considered widely as one of the foremost poetic achievements of the Latin middle ages, and a hallmark of the philosophy and spiritual teachings of the School of Chartres. Silvestis paints a vast fresco of the creation of the macrocosmos and microcosmos fusing the biblical creation account with Platonic and hermetic philosophy and cosmology. Spiritual beings such as Nature (Nature), Divine Wisdom (Nous), Primeval Chaos (Silva), the planetary beings (Usiarchs), the Celestial and Earthly Principles (Urania and Physis) and others strive to fill the world with light, life, love, and beauty. Their efforts culminate in the creation of the human being, which embraces both heavenly and earthly natures.

Inspired by this vision of the world and the human being, John McDowell and Fabian Lochner have conceived of giving this ancient creation story an artistic rebirth in our time. Drawing on his extensive background in classical, popular, and world music, JohnMcDowell brings his interest in creating new musical forms and idioms to bear upon a story about the creation of a new world. Fabian Lochner brings his expertise in medieval culture and philosophy to bear on his adaptation of Silvestris¹s original Latin poetry into a multi-lingual libretto.

John and Fabian have invited interested artists to join their efforts in creating a multi-dimensional music stage event. Their vision of the final form of Cosmographia is a fully staged two-hour oratorio, complete with costumes, stage sets, eurythmy and dance sections. Their goal is to write, rehearse, and perform the piece in increments over the coming years. The first scene has already been performed by Sunbridge Chorus in the Spring of 1996. The second and third scenes will be added in performances in December 1996 and May 1997. We hope to usher in the new millennium with the completed work. At that time, a national and international tour for Cosmographia is planned.

The idea for Cosmographia arose out of an artistic collaboration between composer and conductor. It is as much an initiative in artistic community building, as it is a musical "production" in the traditional way. The excitement of the Cosmographia project has already touched many members of our community who see it as a unique opportunity of building communal life and of bringing art and music into the world.

Part One. The goddess Natura makes a plea on behalf of Silva, the primeval chaos who is torn by unending internal strife. Natura asks Nous, the Divine Mind, to bestow light, form, and bonds of love to Silva. Nous agrees, and the creation of the macrocosmos ensues: the ordering of the elements, the fashioning of the world-soul, of the planetary spheres, and of the earth with all its plants and animals.

Part Two. Nous wishes to complete her work by uniting the celestial and earthly principles.in the creation of the human being. She sends Natura and Urania, the celestial principle, to search for Physis, the earthly principle. Starting from the realm of the zodiac, Urania and Natura descend through the planetary spheres where they encounter the Usiarchs, the planetary spirits. Finally, Urania and Natura arrive on earth where they find Physis and her two daughters, Theory and Practice, in Granusion, a paradisal grove. They are met again by Nous, and the creation of the human being begins.

Cosmographia ©1996, is sponsored by Sunbridge College