Buxtehude's visionary cantata cycle "Membra Jesu Nostri" finds new and original expression in a collaboration between The Musicall Compass and contemporary dance company Lo Commotion. Conceived by Crispin Lewis and Jo Meredith, the piece is performed in-the-round by dancers, singers and an ensemble of period instruments.

Following Buxtehude's celebrated Passion meditation in seven parts to the feet, knees, hands, side, breast, heart and face, Jo Meredith's choreography takes place around the musicians, who share the performing space in various formations.

This work saw its first performance on March 27th 2009, in the glorious baroque setting of Christ Church, Spitalfields. During the performance, the spectacular Nave and Gallery of Hawksmoor's stunning interior were used in imaginative ways, inspired by the symbolism of Buxtehude's immaculately structured work.

REVIEW - from Colin Wills' Wine and Arts blog, "wineBarre":

"...one of the most exciting events of the year so far"

"...played beautifully by a band who were seated in front of the altar facing away from the audience so that director Lewis could see the dancers as well as the musicians and this had a very nice, and perhaps unintended effect on the sound quality; it was integrated and harmonious, more than I have sometimes heard it in more conventional settings. After the introductory movement, the band began to disappear gradually up into the northwest gallery, where, by the end of the piece, they were making a truly wonderful sound."

"The singers were magnificent performers. Not only were they responsible for a lot of clearly enunciated and beautifully modulated sound, often a long way away from both band and conductor, they acted and interacted with the dancers, involved in the movement, moved by and moving the dancers, singing from the floor and processionally. Perhaps the movement highlight was Chris Wardle and Christopher Bowen picking Lucy Anderson up and carrying her slowly out of the nave. Claire Tomlin sang with amazing tone and purity notwithstanding being nine months pregnant..."

"Musically I think purity was the hallmark of the evening. Played and sung in an entirely unaffected manner, the performance seemed effortless in many places, with the players obviously owning the piece and relaxed with it."

"This was an excellent evening, one that brought much more than I expected in emotion, clarity, complexity and in being memorable. This performance deserves a repeat and would work well in many churches. This Lewis/Meredith collaboration has succeeded superbly and one measure of that was how, gradually, slowly, they won the audience and received an enthusiastic and long ovation that was well deserved."