The Cloisters museum and gardens is on most people’s “To Do” list when they move to New York or visit the city as a tourist, but many never return. The museum, which is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, highlights the art and architecture of medieval Europe.
This fall, there is a new and compelling reason to revisit the museum, or make the trek to upper Manhattan for the first time. Janet Cardiff’s “The Forty Part Motet” opened at the Fuentiduena Chapel on September 10, and will remain on view through December 8. The first time that contemporary art has been shown at the Cloisters, the installation consists of forty speakers set up in a circle outlining the circumference of this gorgeous twelfth-century chapel from Spain. The continuously playing work featuring a three minute interlude and an eleven-minute motet by Tudor composer Thomas Tallis, is sung by individual unaccompanied voices, each emanating from one of the forty speakers.
The speakers on stands take on a lifelike appearance. As one circles the room standing before each speaker some voices become “favorites” and one returns to that voice as an old friend.
There are many lovely galleries and gardens to discover after enjoying the music.
Our recommendation for lunch is New Leaf Restaurant located in Fort Tryon Park, just a short walk or 3-minute car ride from the Cloisters. In addition to the beautiful and tranquil location and the quaint 1930’s cottage, the food is absolutely delicious and fresh as can be. Perhaps most notably, the restuarant is part of the New York Restoration Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to reclaiming and restoring New York City’s parks, community gardens and open space—all net proceeds support the organization’s cleaning and greening efforts, making a dining experience at New Leaf charitable and environmentally responsible!
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