‘Blue Pearl : a One World Oratorio’ – World Premiere was on 14th May 2022, at St Giles’ Cripplegate, London. Text by Ken Wilber, Thich Nhat Hanh and Steve Banks. Music by Steve Banks.

The London Mozart Players, Excelsis and Vox Farnham Chamber Choirs, Felicity Hayward (soprano), Luthien Brackett (mezzo-soprano), David de Winter (tenor), Geoff William (bass), conducted by Rob Lewis.

WATCH THE TOP QUALITY FILM OF THIS EXTRAORDINARY WORLD PREMIERE  ON YOUTUBE – CLICK HERE.

Below are excerpts from five testimonials (click here to read all the testimonials in full). Feedback from the concert will be posted here soon. Below that is a two page summary of the piece and individual movements.

Steve Banks’s Blue Pearl Oratorio’ is a wonderful, exciting musical composition, a superb, exhilarating, magical piece of music that takes one through any number of different experiential realities.
Ken Wilber
The Integral Vision
A remarkable achievement, offered with remarkable sincerity, depth of personal knowledge and experience. The music is, by turns, witty, moving, exciting, and transporting.
Julian Marshall
Composer. ARCM, FHEA
A wonderfully creative new piece that is consoling, challenging, witty, tuneful and inspiring. It beautifully enacts the profound, contemporary and perennial philosophy that underlies it.
Chris Cullen
Chris Cullen, Oxford Mindfulness Centre
LMP has always been thrilled to give the first performances of new compositions that expand the classical repertoire, and we are delighted to be giving the world premiere of ‘Blue Pearl’ with the wonderful Excelsis chamber choir, bringing to life this beautiful, evocative music.
Julia Desbruslais
Executive Director, London Mozart Players
Steve has used different styles of music to great effect to evoke the full compass of human experience: from joy, humour and sexuality to the opening of our hearts in compassion, to the spiritual mystery we encounter in stillness and silence. ‘Blue Pearl’ is a wonderful and moving celebration of our shared humanity.
Rob Lewis
Musical Director, Excelsis and Vox Farnham Chamber Choirs
‘Blue Pearl : a One World Oratorio’ – World Premiere Saturday 14th May 2022, at St Giles’ Cripplegate, London, and streamed live around the world Text by Ken Wilber, Thich Nhat Hanh and Steve Banks. Music by Steve Banks. On this page you can listen to the demo recording of Blue Pearl : A One World Oratorio, and read about it. Demo Recording, Part 1 (45 minutes total) Requiem Nunc xx Evolution 5 xx Anamnesis xx One Mother, One Father xx Blue Pearl xx Never Lost, Never Found xx Demo Recording, Part 2 (40 minutes total) Let Go xx Holons xx Call Me By My True Names xx Sex xx Death xx Be Still xx ‘ ‘ (movement with no name). A minute of silence. Requiem Nunc (Reprise) – The Potter First there are excerpts from five testimonials (to read all the testimonials in full, click here). Then a two page summary of the piece and individual movements. Below that are the mp3’s to listen to. Below that are the lyrics, more detailed notes about the piece and the vocal score. “Steve Banks’s Blue Pearl Oratorio’ is a wonderful, exciting musical composition, a superb, exhilarating, magical piece of music that takes one through any number of different experiential realities.” – Ken Wilber, The Integral Vision “A remarkable achievement, offered with remarkable sincerity, depth of personal knowledge and experience. The music is, by turns, witty, moving, exciting, and transporting.” – Julian Marshall, composer. ARCM, FHEA “LMP has always been thrilled to give the first performances of new compositions that expand the classical repertoire, and we are delighted to be giving the world premiere of ‘Blue Pearl’ with the wonderful Excelsis chamber choir, bringing to life this beautiful, evocative music.” – Julia Desbruslais, Executive Director, London Mozart Players ” ‘Blue Pearl’ is a really exciting challenge for the choir: to bring to life the different styles of music which Steve has used to such great effect to evoke the full compass of our shared human experience. It is a wonderful and moving celebration of our shared humanity. I’m sure many other choirs will perform it in the years to come; to be the first is a real treat for Excelsis and for me.” – Rob Lewis, Musical Director, Excelsis Chamber Choir “A wonderfully creative new piece that is consoling, challenging, witty, tuneful and inspiring. The piece beautifully enacts the profound, contemporary and perennial philosophy that underlies it, opening up an experience of enlightening, transformative potential. An innovative artistic contribution to the emerging spirituality of our times.” – Chris Cullen, Mindfulness trainer and teacher, Oxford Mindfulness Centre The PDFs below will open in a new tab Lyrics (NB: one or two very small changes have been made since the demo recording. This document has the correct lyrics.) Two page summary of the piece and individual movements Notes for listener not familiar with the Integral model. Notes for listener familiar with the Integral model. Recording notes and credits Blue Pearl : vocal score (NB: one or two very small changes have been made since the demo recording. This PDF is the correct version.)