(Hildegard of Bingen arr. Tom Coult)
O Ecclesia is an arrangement of a chant by Hildegard of Bingen. The solo violinist plays the chant, and is free to ornament and play with tempo, while the strings provide a soft halo of sound to surround the violinist’s melodic line.
It was written in collaboration with violinist Daniel Pioro, who was the soloist in the first performance with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.
Instrumentation:
solo violin & string ensemble (min. 3.2.2.2.1)
versions also available for violin & organ, and for violin & electric guitar
Duration:
9 mins
Commission:
Commissioned by BBC Radio 3
Performances:
8 Mar 2025 (electric guitar version)
Aidan O’Rourke & Sean Shibe
LSO St Luke’s, London, UK
6 Mar 2025 (electric guitar version)
Aidan O’Rourke & Sean Shibe
RWCMD, Cardiff, UK
3 Mar 2025 (electric guitar version)
Aidan O’Rourke & Sean Shibe
Howard Assembly Room, Leeds, UK
6 Dec 2024 (electric guitar version)
Aidan O’Rourke & Sean Shibe
King’s Place, London, UK
9 Dec 2024 (electric guitar version)
Aidan O’Rourke & Sean Shibe
National Centre for Early Music, York, UK
11 Dec 2024 (electric guitar version)
Aidan O’Rourke & Sean Shibe
Perth Concert Hall, UK
12 Jul 2024 (violin & organ version)
Alexei Silbert & Carsten Ehret-Pyka
Evangelische Kirche, Leichlingen
German premiere
4 Aug 2022
Ernen Festivalorchester with Daniel Bard
Musikdorf Ernen, Brig, Switzerland
Swiss premiere
21 Apr 2022
Scottish Ensemble, Ensemble Resonanz & Trondheim Soloists with Jonathan Morton
Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow, UK
26 Nov 2021
RNCMN String Orchestra with Daniel Pioro
Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, UK
13 Nov 2021
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra with Daniel Pioro
The Venue, Leeds Conservatoire, UK
19 May 2021
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra with Daniel Pioro, Ryan McAdams (cond.)
BBC MediaCity, Salford, UK
World premiere