"O Virgin Resplendent" - A late medieval canon, moving almost entirely in fluid eighth-note triplets, comes to rest at the end of each phrase. Edited by Mark Winges for the Piedmont Children's Choirs, this piece works beautifully as a processional. "Marriage bed of Chastity" - This lively 13th-century conductus from the Las Huelgas manuscript, with added optional percussion parts, makes a very effective processional. Mary is the "marriage bed of chastity" sought by God the Father for bearing the Son. "O frondens virga" - This new edition of Hildegard's antiphon places it in its liturgical context, pairing it with a plainchant "Magnificat" (included in this edition by William Flynn). The reprise of the antiphon has an optional added voice in organum, reflecting medieval performance practice. Latin, with full translation and historical and performance notes. "Dancing" - "I stumble and tumble," begins this freely-rendered medieval text, set in 6/4 over a delightfully lurching scat ostinato in 12/8. Written for the women of the Cornell University Chorus, it works easily when conducted in a big 2. English. "Circle" - In this medieval mystic text the circle is an image for meditation, first excluding, then embracing, the world. The musical setting reflects the image with contracting and expanding textures, and a soprano solo. |
