By the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept … As for our harps, we hanged them up upon the trees that are therein. For they that led us away captive required of us then a song, saying “Sing us one of the songs of Sion” … “How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?”

Many composers have set this heart-wrenching text, telling of the exile of a people from their homeland. JS Bach sets the poem as a solemn hymn, Palestrina as a multi-voiced motet.

The text is no less potent in the 21st century than it was in 500 BCE. The Australian Chamber Choir has commissioned Australian composer, Tom Henry to write a new work on this theme, called Uncertain Journeys.

Other performances:

PRESTON          15 JUNE
MIDDLE PARK   18 JUNE
MACEDON         19 AUGUST
GEELONG          20 AUGUST
BOWRAL           26 AUGUST
SYDNEY             27 AUGUST