The title is an oxymoron from the religious French thinker Simone Weil,
her words meant to express a spiritual goal.

For when I see [a landscape], I am always there.

Of course any landscape, no matter how familiar, will always change from
one viewing to the next – a shift in the play of light and shadow bringing
a whole new perspective. And so it is with this piece. Each performance
will bring a new perspective, a subtle shift in light, as the random
introduction of pre-recorded choral harmonies float out and interact with
the fixed piece.

These ideas are tied in with the visual work of Edward Hopper, in particular
his painting ‘Early Sunday Morning’ (1930)

[…] the visual message of the image, with its parallel horizontals,
its repetitive sequence of units, its long stretch. It’s also the narrative
message. The light declares early morning, and the title specifies early
Sunday morning. No one is around. No one is up and about. No one is awake.
The street is empty. The people in the apartments sleep. The only visible
event is the fall of the light.

– Tom Lubbock

‘To see a landscape as it is when I am not there’ was commissioned by the
Irish Youth Choir to celebrate their 30th Anniversary with funds generously
provided by The Arts Council of Ireland.

The text for the piece is a composite of phrases from Tom Lubbock’s article on Edward Hopper’s ‘Early Sunday Morning’ Simone Weil’s writings and from the D.H. Lawrence poem ‘Song (“Love has crept…”)’

For when I see, I am always there

Whence comes the silence?

A cool light casts long shadows

Pure, clear morning light

Early Sunday morning

Intensely visible

Simply, Calmly

Sets quivering with music

And her simple words rejoice

In her voice

Be still my heart

If only

My heart beats

Silence of heaven