Drawing on early recordings of Gregorian chant alongside strings, tape loops and subtle electronic textures, Magnificat continues Cooper’s interest in combining ancient and contemporary sound worlds. The piece incorporates restored Decca recordings of Benedictine monks from the early 1960s, reworked and layered with Cooper’s own compositions, including cello tones recorded on an instrument dating from 1744.
Discussing the work, Cooper reflects on Gregorian chant as a form that is “spatial, non-metric and meditative,” creating space for reflection and calm. The music is shaped by a sense of stillness and continuity, informed by time spent in London’s historic churches and by the quiet, contemplative environments that influenced the recording process.
Magnificat offers an early glimpse into the EP’s wider themes of repetition, listening, and gradual transformation, both in sound and accompanying artwork, which will continue to evolve following the release.