Description
Bristol-based composer David Bednall chose a passage from the Gospel of St Luke to set for his commission from Opus Anglicanum, the five-voice British group notable for commissioning many new works. The story describes Jesus filling the doubtful fishermen’s nets, empty from the previous night’s efforts. Put out into the deep is carefully crafted, beginning with a chant-inspired melody which develops as the voices are gently revealed. Plainchant laces the work, even appearing as two Latin phrases while the English text is suspended—the characters taking a break from their work—with rippling scalic melodies. The harmonies reflect the influence of twentieth-century British composers such as Edward Bairstow and Herbert Howells.
© Owain Park 2026
While the people pressed upon him to hear
the word of God, he was standing by the lake
of Gennesaret. And he saw two boats by the
lake; but the fishermen had gone out of them
and were washing their nets. Getting into one
of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him
to put out a little from the land. And he sat
down and taught the people from the boat.
Ascendens Jesus in navim, et sedens, docebat
turbas, alleluia.
And when he had ceased speaking, he said to
Simon: “Put out into the deep, and let down
your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered:
“Master, we toiled all night and took nothing!
But at your word I will let down the nets.”
Preceptor per totam noctem laborantes nichil
cepimus, in verbo autem tuo laxabo rete.
And when they had done this, they enclosed a
great shoal of fish; and as their nets were
breaking, they beckoned to their partners in
the other boat to come and help them. And
they came and filled both the boats, so that
they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw
it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying; “Depart
from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For
he was astonished, and all that were with him,
at the catch of fish which they had taken; and
so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee,
who were partners with Simon. And Jesus
said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; henceforth
you will be catching men.” And when they
had brought their boats to land, they left
everything and followed him.
Luke 5: 1-11
