John Tavener: God is With Us: A Christmas Proclamation Context Known for his incredible catalogue of sacred vocal works, John Tavener has been described as “having a very rare gift of being able to bring an audience to a deep silence.” Although Tavener is largely celebrated for his choral works, Read more…
Hildegard von Bingen: Cum erubuerint Context Hildegard von Bingen’s haunting choral work Cum erubuerint is a companion piece to her other antiphon Cum processit factura. Between these two works the story of Adam and Eve’s naive fall into deception and how the Virgin Mary and her Son graced the world Read more…
Hildegard von Bingen: O virga ac diadema The Text 1 – O virga ac diadema purpure regis / O branch and diadem in royal purple clad, que es in clausura tua sicut lorica: / who like a shield stand in your cloister strong. 2 – Tu frondens flouristi in alia Read more…
Hildegard von Bingen: Alleluia! O virga mediatrix Context This verse is meant to accompany the singing of the Gospel at Mass. Alleluia! O virga mediatrix is one of Hildegard von Bingen’s musical depictions of the Virgin Mary’s role in salvation history. The text speaks of feminity and fertility, with the Read more…
Hildegard von Bingen: O frondens virga Context The Roman Catholic definition of an antiphon is “liturgical music, chant melody and text sung before and after a psalm verse, originally by alternating choirs.” Hildegard von Bingen’s O frondens virga is a psalm antiphon that is sung by a choir. Often accompanied Read more…
Henry Purcell: With that Sublime Celestial Lay Context As the seventh movement of thirteen in Henry Purcell’s Hail! Bright Cecilia (1692), With that Sublime Celestial Lay is a trio composed for alto, tenor and bass. The work is in honour of the feast day of Saint Cecilia – the Read more…
Johann Sebastian Bach: Zion hört die Wächter singen Context J. S. Bach’s church cantata Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (‘Awake, calls the voice to us’) was composed for the 27th Sunday after Trinity. It’s first performance happened on the 25th November 1731. This work completed Bach’s second annual cycle Read more…
Eric Whitacre: Sleep Context Composed in 2000 and premiered in 2001, Eric Whitacre’s popular choral work Sleep came from a very personal commission request. In 1999, Whitacre was approached by Julia Armstrong, a mezzo-soprano living in Texas. She proposed a commission for a new work from Whitacre to be performed Read more…
Eric Whitacre: When David Heard Context Eric Whitacre was born in Nevada in1970, and from a young age he studied the piano. He later got into a band, where he played the synthesizer, and it was at this point that Whitacre aspired to be a rock musician. Just before going Read more…
John Rutter: Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind Context John Rutter’s choral work Blow, Blow Thou Winter Wind is a setting of a song from the second act of William Shakespeare’s As You Like It. Originally published as part of Rutter’s choral cycle When Icicles Hang, this particular work is more Read more…