Music for Time

Arthur Keegan new work
Oliver Messiaen The Quartet for the End of Time

Join Hebrides Ensemble for an evening of extraordinary music that speaks across generations, exploring light, faith, and the unbreakable human spirit. Written during the composer’s imprisonment in a German POW camp, Oliver Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time is a testament to hope and transcendence in the face of unimaginable hardship. Its ethereal colours, spiritual intensity, and moments of profound stillness have made it a touchstone for generations of listeners.

In dialogue with Messiaen’s masterpiece, Hebrides Ensemble premieres a new work by Arthur Keegan, commissioned by the Royal Philharmonic Society. Keegan’s composition takes Messiaen’s ideas of eternity and renewal as a starting point, creating a contemporary reflection on faith, fragility, and the passing of time.

Together, these two works offer a powerful evening of music that reaches beyond history — where sound becomes remembrance, renewal and hope.