Uploaded August 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The world premiere performance of a new work by Donna McKevitt, commissioned by the VOCES8 Foundation for Paul Smith's 'Renewal?' concert for Live From London Summer 2021.
'Keeping Quiet' by Donna McKevitt sets a translation of the Pablo Neruda poem with beautiful simplicity and time to reflect on the text within the music, echoed here with dance by Giulia Tonelli and Lucas Valente.
Performers:
VOCES8
Apollo5
Caroline Dale ('cello)
Roger Chase (viola)
Directed by Paul Smith
Music performance recorded at the VOCES8 Centre, London by the VOCES8 Studios team.
Ballet performance filmed at Tanzhaus Zurich by Nicole Davidson.
www.voces8.foundation
Text:
KEEPING QUIET
Now we will count to twelve
and we will all keep still.
For once on the face of the earth
let's not speak in any language,
let's stop for one second,
and not move our arms so much.
It would be an exotic moment
without rush, without engines,
we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness.
Fishermen in the cold sea
would not harm whales
and the man gathering salt
would look at his hurt hands.
Those who prepare green wars,
wars with gas, wars with fire,
victory with no survivors,
would put on clean clothes
and walk about with their brothers
in the shade, doing nothing.
What I want should not be confused
with total inactivity.
Life is what it is about;
I want no truck with death.
If we were not so single-minded
about keeping our lives moving,
and for once could do nothing,
perhaps a huge silence
might interrupt this sadness
of never understanding ourselves
and of threatening ourselves with death.
Perhaps the earth can teach us
as when everything seems dead
and later proves to be alive.
Now I'll count up to twelve
and you keep quiet and I will go.
Pablo Neruda (1904-1973), "Keeping Quiet" Extravagaria (translated by Alastair Reid) Jonathan Cape, London, 1972, pp.27-29 (original Estravagario, Editorial Losada, Buenos Aires, 1958)"
----
VOCES8 is the no. 1 streamed classical vocal ensemble in the world. Through the VOCES8 Foundation, it runs an innovative and wide reaching education programme reaching 50,000 participants every year, with an aim to inspire people through music.
Become a member of the VOCES8 channel for exclusive performances, behind the scenes moments and early access to new releases 👉bit.ly/4bAwaNA
Subscribe to VOCES8 YouTube channel 👉 bit.ly/43Xg38H
Follow VOCES8 on:
VOCES8 Website voces8.com
VOCES8 Foundation Website https://www.voces8.foundation
Donate to the VOCES8 Foundation 👉 bit.ly/4or0UDO
Facebook facebook.com/VOCES8
Instagram instagram.com/voces8
TikTok tiktok.com/@voces8official
The world premiere performance of a new work by Donna McKevitt, commissioned by the VOCES8 Foundation for Paul Smith's 'Renewal?' concert for Live From London Summer 2021.
'Keeping Quiet' by Donna McKevitt sets a translation of the Pablo Neruda poem with beautiful simplicity and time to reflect on the text within the music, echoed here with dance by Giulia Tonelli and Lucas Valente.
Performers:
VOCES8
Apollo5
Caroline Dale ('cello)
Roger Chase (viola)
Directed by Paul Smith
Music performance recorded at the VOCES8 Centre, London by the VOCES8 Studios team.
Ballet performance filmed at Tanzhaus Zurich by Nicole Davidson.
www.voces8.foundation
Text:
KEEPING QUIET
Now we will count to twelve
and we will all keep still.
For once on the face of the earth
let's not speak in any language,
let's stop for one second,
and not move our arms so much.
It would be an exotic moment
without rush, without engines,
we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness.
Fishermen in the cold sea
would not harm whales
and the man gathering salt
would look at his hurt hands.
Those who prepare green wars,
wars with gas, wars with fire,
victory with no survivors,
would put on clean clothes
and walk about with their brothers
in the shade, doing nothing.
What I want should not be confused
with total inactivity.
Life is what it is about;
I want no truck with death.
If we were not so single-minded
about keeping our lives moving,
and for once could do nothing,
perhaps a huge silence
might interrupt this sadness
of never understanding ourselves
and of threatening ourselves with death.
Perhaps the earth can teach us
as when everything seems dead
and later proves to be alive.
Now I'll count up to twelve
and you keep quiet and I will go.
Pablo Neruda (1904-1973), "Keeping Quiet" Extravagaria (translated by Alastair Reid) Jonathan Cape, London, 1972, pp.27-29 (original Estravagario, Editorial Losada, Buenos Aires, 1958)"
----
VOCES8 is the no. 1 streamed classical vocal ensemble in the world. Through the VOCES8 Foundation, it runs an innovative and wide reaching education programme reaching 50,000 participants every year, with an aim to inspire people through music.
Become a member of the VOCES8 channel for exclusive performances, behind the scenes moments and early access to new releases 👉bit.ly/4bAwaNA
Subscribe to VOCES8 YouTube channel 👉 bit.ly/43Xg38H
Follow VOCES8 on:
VOCES8 Website voces8.com
VOCES8 Foundation Website https://www.voces8.foundation
Donate to the VOCES8 Foundation 👉 bit.ly/4or0UDO
Facebook facebook.com/VOCES8
Instagram instagram.com/voces8
TikTok tiktok.com/@voces8official
