Astronomia is a set of three a cappella choral works. Each movement uses poetry by Walt Whitman--three poems that were written at different times in Whitman's life. Even though these poems were written hundreds of years ago, their meaning and relevance is more timely than ever. “When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer” expresses a preference for a personal connection with nature over intellectual analysis. The second movement, “The Mississippi at Midnight”, is a prime example of Whitman’s fascination with the spirituality found in nature, a transcendentalist ideology. Finally, the third movement, “Kosmos”, examines the concept of the universe and its connection to humanity.
“Best is the eerie wonder of Christopher Jessup’s 'The Mississippi at Midnight': barely two minutes long, and lovely.”
"Jessup's 'The Mississippi at Midnight' is the ethereal middle movement from a 2021 three-part set titled Astronomia. All three movements use as springboards poems about astronomy by Walt Whitman, with 1848's 'The Mississippi at Midnight' a textbook example of the poet's preoccupation with the spiritual in nature.”
“Astronomia I. 'When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer' by Christopher Jessup opens this installment. It is a fine example of sagacious use of not-too-strident dissonant chords, well designed and extremely well sung by the Kühn Choir of Prague and firmly guided by the conductor Lenka Navrátilová.”
“Christopher Jessup’s Astronomia: I. 'When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer' opens the listen with The Kühn Choir of Prague’s harmonic voices interacting with much warmth and beauty in the uplifting climate.”
