“...Hildegard von Bingen’s “O Jerusalem,” exquisitely sung at the end of the program by the sopranos of ModernMedieval Voices (anchored by Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek, formerly of the all-female a cappella group Anonymous 4). This Latin chant, begun in unison and then moving into differentiated, but still simple, vocal lines, was all about ascent and ecstasy”. (Heidi Waleson, Wall Street Journal)

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The Living Word

This a cappella program features some of Hildegard of Bingen’s most ecstatic chants, including O Jerusalem and O Viridissima Virga, reflecting her most important sources of inspiration: Mother Church, Saints, The Virgin Mary, and The Divine Feminine, as represented by Love and Wisdom. These chants are interwoven with new works by acclaimed composers Caroline Shaw, the youngest ever winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Music, Caleb Burhans, “New York’s mohawked Mozart” (Time Out New York), Joel Phillip Friedman, Daniel Thomas Davis, and Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek. The new works are based on, or influenced by, Hildegard’s philosophic writings, her music, and her visions, and each composer presents their own unique and personal interpretation. The resulting program is an exciting a tour de force for both singers and composers.

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Words of Love and Wisdom: Works by Hildegard of Bingen, Julianna Barwick, Ben Frost and Angélica Negrón  

In this program of music for voices and electronics, which premiered at SPCO’s Liquid Music series, chants by 12th century mystic Hildegard of Bingen are interwoven with newly commissioned pieces by visionary composer-producers Ben Frost, Angelica Negron and Julianna Barwick.

A Midwinter Feast

A holiday program of music from the British Isles, featuring beloved English medieval and Renaissance carols, including Angelus ad Virginum, A Virgin Unspotted and Green Groweth the Holly. Also included are some traditional favorites, including In the Bleak Midwinter, The Coventry Carol, and The Holly and the Ivy. The program will include a setting of the medieval poem Winter Wakeneth by acclaimed British composer Andrew Lovett as well as a setting by Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek of There is no Rose, sung in Sean Nos style to the tune of an ancient Irish folk-ballad, The Lamentations of Deidre.


 

Sacred Voices, Hidden Treasures
 
A program of music exploring somewhat overlooked music from the western sacred choral tradition: namely music written by and/or for nuns. This program consists almost entirely of music written by women and sung in convents, from the Middle Ages (music from the Las Huelgas Codex and composer Hildegard of Bingen, including O Viridissima Virga) to the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Composers include Caterina Assandra, Chiara Margarita Cozzolani, Lucrezia Vizzana and Isabella Leonarda. There is also an example of music written for the nuns by a male composer, Romano Micheli. We will also feature new pieces by Caroline Shaw and Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek inspired by the music and writings of Hildegard of Bingen, bringing the program full circle.
 
 
 

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The Divine Feminine

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A program consisting entirely of music written by women for the women of ModernMedieval Voices.  All the pieces were commissioned by the ensemble and represent diverse and wide-ranging viewpoints, individual voices united through the common purpose of writing for the unique vocal sonorities of an all-female trio. Composers include Caroline Shaw, Julianna Barwick, Angelica Negron, Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek, Pamela Madsen, Bora Yoon and Gilda Lyons. 

Promo video, Liquid Music

Excerpts from O Jerusalem by Hildegard of Bingen, from the program The Living Word, performed at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC

 Green Groweth the Holly/The Holly and the ivy  performed  at Dumbarton Oaks, Dec 2021