Nico Muhly

The Panther

The Panther is an anthem for SATB chorus and organ, setting a text by Eleanor Parker, based on a poem from The Exeter Book. Muhly says: "The Exeter Book is a collection of Old English poetry, likely compiled in the 10th century. It contains, among other things, a poem comparing Christ to a panther, in a fabulous extended metaphor. When my dear friend James Mustard, the Canon Precentor at Exeter Cathedral (which, as you might expect, houses the Book itself) asked me if I would consider setting that poem to celebrate Exeter's hosting of the Northern European Cathedrals Conference this winter, I asked the wonderful Eleanor Parker if she would make a translation for me, and the result is The Panther."

The first performance and broadcast took place on Wednesday February 4 2026 at Exeter Cathedral under the direction of Timothy Noon, during the Northern European Cathedrals Conference. The Panther was commissioned by the Dean and Chapter of Exeter, with generous support of the Malcolm Walker Fund, to celebrate the opening in 2025 of Exeter Cathedral's Treasures Exhibition, putting The Exeter Book on public display for the first time since it was bequeathed to Exeter Cathedral in 1072.