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The Wise Men make only a brief appearance in Matthew’s account of the Nativity story, but their visit to Bethlehem has inspired generations of artists. The identity of these visitors and the significance of their gifts have been the focus of much speculation – and creative interpretation in art, music and poetry. The Magi remain a familiar and enduringly enigmatic presence in stories about the first Christmas and their visit is celebrated in countless school Nativity plays and again at Epiphany.

W.R. Rodgers re-imagined the Christmas story of the wise men and their visit to Bethlehem in a broadcast poem for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ radio in 1948. He describes their ‘zigzag’ journey through the seasons of the year with all of its changing moods and places and their quest in search of meaning – something that he says they found in ‘the child within themselves’ and just at that moment when all hope seemed lost.

Belfast-based composer Paul Campbell has written a new piece of music to accompany W.R. Rodgers’ poem about the Magi. Composed as a special commission to mark the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ’s centenary, his work blends words and music in fresh combination and reflects the inventiveness of the poem’s original broadcast. His score was written over several months in mid-2022 and was performed for this recording by the Ulster Orchestra in Belfast.

The Journey of the Magi is narrated by Michelle Fairley and Stuart Graham with an introduction by the award-winning poet, Michael Longley.

Michael Longley’s contribution begins with his reading of some lines from W.R. Rodgers’ poem, Nativity – part of what he describes as a ‘group of astonishing meditations in which Rodgers rethinks and feels afresh the Christian story.’ He also talks about how, in The Journey of the Magi, W.R. Rodgers ‘priest and poet, invites us to take a risk’ and to follow the wise men in their ‘perilous, touch and go’ journey.

The illustration for this programme is by Jonathan McHugh.

Production Co-ordinator: Damien McLaughlin
Music composed by: Paul Campbell
Sound: John Benson and Bill Maul
Producers: Paul Campbell and Graeme Stewart
Executive Producer: Mark Adair