Over the past five years, Transpositions has been for me an inspiring touchstone, a guidepost, a classroom, a stage, a playground, a church, an art studio, and most importantly, a meaningful network of people wrestling with and expressing the ways we encounter God through the arts.
Now, in what feels like a long and satisfying exhale, it is time for me to say farewell as Editor-in-Chief and offer my gratitude to this space in which I have been able to explore and grow among some of the finest people – team members and contributors alike.
It has been a most enriching journey and I am grateful to Brett Speakman for inviting me to the team during my first year in St Andrews. His commitment to quality and consistency during his tenure as Editor-in-Chief ensured high calibre content and growth. Jake Morley continued this commitment and was a wonderful colleague with whom to explore new directions. I have been very proud of the work we have done together, the contributors I have encountered, the series I was able to introduce each term – especially the highlights on ITIA’s artist group, Transept – and the way we have engaged the issues of our strange time. To say my background in improvisation came in handy over the past two years is an understatement.
But most important to our success is the team that has surrounded me. I could not be prouder of them and the work we have done together in the past couple years – during a pandemic, no less. The optimism and talent of this team – Ewan, James, Matthew, Karlee and Elizabeth – has been extremely inspiring, and I value the friendships we have built.
So I am beyond thrilled to pass the baton on to Ewan Bowlby, a dear colleague and friend who has made incredible contributions to Transpositions over the past few years – both as an Associate Editor and a contributor. Under his leadership, Transpositions will only grow stronger and even more compelling. Ewan has been a great inspiration to me and a strong partner in navigating these odd times. I am excited to see the wonderful things in store this term as new pages are written, composed and transposed, continuing a tradition of meaningful work.
And as I make my own transposition of sorts, I offer this poem from Zebediah Rose, a member of ITIA’s Transept group, and I dedicate it to everyone who has been part of the Transpositions editorial team over the past eleven years, all of whom have contributed to a rich archive of work, like canticles resounding through a cathedral.
Transposition
A song,
Chanting lowly,
Weaves among the columns,
Builds up cathedral walls – from where
They fell to dust.
But now the octave soars,
A spring with eight walls comes to life,
The bread, the wine, a leaking
Bag of sand
Find higher pitch –
With broken canticles, we come
Near as we can to the golden key,
The heights come down – the dust alights –
In holy song.
What’s next?
For Transpositions – an exciting, continuing crescendo as new ‘canticles’ find voice, and notes composed by each contributor are raised to the heights.
For me – as I hand off the baton and exit stage right, I look forward to the next improvisation, and the one after that, and on… invigorated by the creativity and the rigourous and delightful work I have enjoyed with our Transpositions teams; and by the knowledge that it plays on.
In the spirit of my beloved improvisation art form, Playback Theatre, I say with great anticipation for the future of Transpositions, ‘Let’s watch…’
~ Karen
Transpositions Editor, 2017-2022
Image Credit
Man with music notes on wire: iStock.com/ALLVISIONN
