a sung devotion by LUKE HATHAWAY
with afterword by DANIEL CABENA
June 2023
20 pp., wire bound, 4.75"x 8.5"
ISBN # 978-1-928066-86-6
cover of St. Armand Canal paper
flyleaf of Unryu tissue
cover artwork: Melissa K. Marr

Luke Hathaway’s text is a queer and trans-y reenactment of the devotional rhythms of the Medieval hymn Membra Jesu nostri, as set to music by Dietrich Buxtehude in 1680. A work of spiritual reclamation and erotic celebration, this reanimation of Buxtehude’s seven cantatas celebrates the quotidian rhythms of caregiving and acknowledges the agony of grief. With an afterword by singer/scholar Daniel Cabena.

Luke Hathaway is a trans and queer poet/librettist/performer. He has collaborated with composers Colin Labadie, Benton Roark, Zachary Wadsworth, and James Rolfe, as well as with DaPoPo Theatre, to bring his mythopoeic word-worlds to the stage. With Daniel Cabena he is co-artistic-director of ANIMA, a metamorphosing ensemble that creates and commissions new works inspired by early-music sources. Luke’s book The Affirmations: poems was released by Biblioasis in 2022, and recognized in The Times, London, as a best book of the year. Luke teaches English and Creative Writing at Saint Mary’s University in Kjipuktuk/Halifax.

Daniel Cabena sings, writes, and teaches. He is also a curator of texts and music; and with Luke Hathaway he shares the artistic direction of ANIMA. Together they program concerts, commission new works of text and music, and create new works for the ear and for the stage. Daniel teaches vocal pedagogy and early music history and works with singers, one-on-one and in groups, at Wilfrid Laurier University and at the Laurier Academy of Music and Arts. Daniel’s music-making and teaching are informed by the Alexander Technique, in which field he is a teacher. He also makes music with his hands, playing modern and Baroque violin and viola as well as vièle and recorders.