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Hodie
Setting: SSSAA
Hear sample:
Hodie Clip
1 (MP3)
Hodie Clip
2 (MP3)
Hodie Clip
3 (MP3)
Performed by The Wisconsin State Honors Choir.
O Virtus Sapientie
Setting: SSAA
Poet: Hildegard of Bingen
Length: 5 minutes
Difficulty: 3 (on a scale of 1-5 with 5
being most difficult)
Description:
Word painting has always been a strong component
of my music. In O Virtus Sapientie I found a way
to explore those possibilities in Hildegard's
poem: Vitrus as the animus, and Sapientia as the
anima force. Hence the dissonance for Virtus,
contrasting with the more lyrical nature of Sapientia.
The ciruiens circuisti as a circulating undulating
interplay between the voices, and the "tres
alas," or three wings, taking their respective
positions in the three voices, and coming together
as a trinitarian image in tercia. The joyous end
emphasizes the celebration and affirmation of
Sapientia by Hildegard and this composer.
Text:
O Virtus Sapientie
que circuiens circuisti
comprehendendo omnia in una via
que habet vitam,
tres alas habens,
quarum una in altum volat
et altera de terra sudat
et tercia undique volat.
Laus tibi sit,sicut te decet,
O Sapientie.
Translation:
O power of Wisdom
You encompassed the cosmos
encircling and embracing all
in one living orbit
with your three wings:
one soars on high,
one distills the earth's presence,
and the third hovers everywhere.
Praise to you, fitting praise!
O Wisdom.