(After Hildegard)

O Ecclesia, O Euchari was written for the Marian Consort and violinist Daniel Pioro, who suggested I make a new work based on two chants by Hildegard of Bingen (I also wrote a partner work, Hymns of Kassiana, for the same forces, based on chants by Kassia).

They’re very free in how they adapt the material, and place it in unfamiliar surroundings. Both pieces, however, present the original chants in full (though perhaps stretched, compressed, or multiplied to fit their new clothing).

O Ecclesia, an adaptation of previous works which I have made for Daniel based on the chant, sees the violinist freely intone Hildegard’s melody, while the voices provide soft halos of sound to surround the melodic line.

In O Euchari, two voices at a time duet on the chant, while the violinist comments, as if in slow motion. Shortly, these three lines are joined by a solemn chorale in the remaining voices – this chorale continues and flowers, as one of the two solo lines gradually sinks into the slow motion world of the violin.

Instrumentation:

solo violin & mixed choir (SSAATTBB)

Duration:

16 mins

Commission:

Commissioned by Britten Pears Arts

Performances:

10 Jun 2024
Daniel Pioro & Marian Consort
Aldeburgh Festival, Holy Trinity Church, Blythburgh, UK

 World premiere of complete work

24 Mar 2024
Daniel Pioro & Marian Consort
Wigmore Hall, London, UK

 World premiere of O Ecclesia