Traces of Sura takes you back to medieval religious life in the oldest city in Holland. History, art, architecture and music come together in a special program. In the center is the Sura Cantata by the renowned composer Patrick van Deurzen, performed by the Merwe’s Oratorium Vereniging (MOV). The city carillonneur will also take you up the tower to tell you about the carillon and the bells. The mighty Kam organ can also be heard.

The music and text develops from darkness to light. First movements are about the preparations for the hanging of the murderers, with an important role for the people (choir) who call for revenge. At the end of the third movement Sura’s spirit (soprano) appears and asks the people to be gentle. In the following parts, thanks to Sura’s plea, the people change their minds, forgive the murderers and finally sing the unconditional love to Sura.
The writer Jules Terlingen has added the son of one of the murderers (boy soprano) to the original story, which gives an extra dimension to the perspective of guilt, penance and forgiveness. The music is direct and goes from dark, ominous sounds that support the revenge of the people, through lyrical melodies of Sura, to ecstatic love music.

The commission for the work, supported by the Performing Arts Fund, comes from the Merwe’s Oratorium Association (MOV) in honour of their 100th anniversary. Conducted by Patrick van der Linden, the choir, together with the Ars Musica Orkest and Heleen Koele (soprano), will premiere the Cantata on 13 March 2020 in the Antonius Church in Dordrecht. The composition has been made financially possible by a subsidy from the Fonds Podiumkunsten.