Praying To Trees

Programme Notes

Over the years, I have been fortunate to compose numerous works inspired by, and intended to draw attention to, our natural world. Trees, in particular, have remained a central and recurring presence in my creative life.

Many environmentalists and artivists feel compelled to justify their work in practical terms: we argue against deforestation because of economic value, climate impact, or public health. While these arguments are vital, I have increasingly found myself drawn to something less measurable yet profoundly essential—the spiritual nourishment nature provides.

In my own daily life, I return again and again to simple rituals: walking through a park, breathing deeply, standing quietly beneath towering branches. In those moments, I experience a sense of awe that feels deeply sacred. For centuries, humanity has directed its reverence toward churches and temples built of stone. Yet I have come to believe that our most ancient and vital place of worship stands in the forest itself.

This conviction inspired Praying to Trees. When I encountered Kathleen Burke’s text, I was immediately transported to those moments when time seems suspended—when being among trees feels like entering a higher plane of consciousness. The Western tradition has long used the singing voice to express religious devotion. In this work, I seek to honour that tradition while redirecting it toward the cathedral of the natural world—where the sacred is not constructed, but grown.

– Frank Horvat