Originally commissioned by Bedford School, this Christmas anthem sets a poem by Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179): her Alleluia-verse for the Virgin Mary O virga mediatrix. The poem focuses on the essential Christmas mystery of the Incarnation, and both the original Latin text and the beautiful poetic English rendering by Barbara Newman are used. The text is replete with vivid images of the Virgin birth and the union of heaven and earth.
Musically, we begin with a rising up from the dark depths, with reference to Indian ragas, towards the light bursting forth from the Virgin Mary (ie, Christ). The effect of this on the world brings joyful pealing. Tolling bells are imitated as ‘Two realms become one’. Tolling is transformed into (again) pealing, as we race towards a vision of the eternal celebration of the Christmas mystery.
This score is a shorter (and simpler) version of A Christmas Alleluia, also available from Composers Edition (ce-bi1aca1).
- ISMN: 9790570682782 (M570682782)
