When the dome of the Plaskett Telescope opens, it won't just be eyes looking up to the celestial heavens.
The haunting voices of around 20 choral singers will also carry upwards during Vox in the Stars, one of Victoria's most unique concert experiences, taking place Sept. 5-7 in the world-renowned Dominion Astrophysical Observatory.
"The sound in the dome is amazingly resonant, akin to, for instance, an ancient cathedral," describes Vox Humana Chamber Choir artistic director David Stratkauskas. "The atmosphere of this historic observatory, on top of the hill, under the skies, is quite literally otherworldly! It's almost a religious experience."
Sitting atop Observatory Hill in Saanich, the dome of the 106-year-old Plaskett Telescope has been the scene of Vox in the Stars concerts going back to at least 2013.
This year, Vox Humana Chamber Choir performs a cappella – except for a song that involves a violist – under the dome's open roof, singing music that explores themes of astronomy, science, the majesty of the heavens and our place in the cosmos.
The choir uses new pieces each year, with this year's repertoire including two special pieces by Victoria composers: Christine Donkin’s evocative Aurora for choir and viola, and Chris Sivak’s newly composed Star Light, Star Bright.
To recreate the majesty of space in music, Sivak used various musical techniques in his composition, including a trick called 'extensor notes'. This is where the choir sings a smooth melodic line, while sections of the choir break off and sing decaying rhythmic figures.
"The intent is to sonically paint the image of shooting stars flying across the sky. It's a pretty magical effect," he said.
He described the composition as a labour, both of relentlessness and of joy, that involved workshopping the piece with two other choirs.
What remains true today, as any time in history, is the way that art and science complement one another, particularly when it comes to the awe that the cosmos inspires.
"It's interesting to note that many astronomers and scientists over the years have not only had a strong sense of awe and wonder – and choral music communicates this sense beautifully – but many have also been keen musicians," Stratkauskas said. "And of course, for thousands of years, there was a belief that music and science were closely related – it's said that Pythagoras thought that the celestial bodies made music."
He hopes that the concerts will help raise awareness for the "wonderful education and outreach" done by the Friends of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory.
Eventbrite tickets for the concert, which runs Sept. 5-7 at 7:30 p.m., are $45 for general admission and free for ages 25 and under. The observatory is located at 5071 West Saanich Rd.
More can be learned about the observatory at https://centreoftheuniverse.org.
