Lux in Tenebris is a contemporary Mass work for three female voices and ney by Christos Barbas, performed together with Trio Mediæval. Inspired by Ramon Llull’s Book of the Lover and the Beloved, the work creates a dialogue between medieval spirituality, Eastern Mediterranean modal traditions and contemporary composition.

Many of Llull’s texts take the form of an intimate dialogue between seeker and beloved, resonating closely with the poetic and mystical language of Persian and Sufi traditions, particularly in figures such as Yunus Emre and Jalal al-Din Rumi. Passages from the Bible and ancient and contemporary poetic sources also appear throughout the work.

Although entirely original, the composition draws inspiration from medieval monophonic music, Gregorian chant, Middle Eastern modal traditions and the improvisatory language of taksim. Moving between meditative vocal textures, silence, resonance and improvised passages for ney, the work explores the intersection of spirituality, poetry and sound through both ancient and contemporary musical languages.

Grammy-nominated vocal ensemble Trio Mediæval is internationally renowned for its distinctive blend of medieval sacred music, Nordic folk traditions, contemporary composition and improvisation. Founded in Oslo in 1997, the trio’s core repertoire spans sacred monophonic and polyphonic music from medieval England, Italy and France, alongside traditional Norwegian, Swedish and Icelandic songs and contemporary works written for the ensemble. Their longstanding relationship with ECM Records, collaborative spirit and extensive international touring have established Trio Mediæval as one of the leading vocal ensembles in contemporary sacred and early music today.

Lux in Tenebris was awarded the 2025 Creation and Artistic Residency Grant around Ramon Llull by Laboratori Llull / Estudi General Lul·lià (Mallorca).

Booking & Project Coordination
Bijan Pasban Hazrat
office@christosbarbas.com