Programmes

Mirror of Eternity:
Music for St Clare and St Ursula

Music
Alessandro Grandi, Hildegard of Bingen, Tomas Luis de Victoria, Lodovico Agostini and Lucrezia Vizzana

Fee range
£2,500 to £3,200

Performing forces
five singers, organ, chitarrone and/or harp
Celestial Sirens female voice choir (optional)
reader

Workshop
Half-day workshop for a local female-voice choir to allow participation in performance
Fee: £300 (including music)

Description
Offered as a full-length concert; optional participation of our amateur female-voice choir Celestial Sirens, or a local female-voice choir that we will coach on the day

Focusing on music from our latest recording, Alessandro Grandi's glorious Motetti a cinque voci (1614), this programme also features works by Hildegard of Bingen, Tomas Luis de Victoria, Lodovico Agostini and the nun composer Lucrezia Vizzana.

Grandi's publication was dedicated to Margherita Gonzaga d'Este, widow of Duke Alfonso II, founder of the original musica secreta at his court in Ferrara. After his death she founded the Clarissan convent of St Ursula in Mantua where she established her own female monastic court until her own death in 1618.

In this programme, Grandi's sweetly passionate songs and other motets are interspersed with plainchant for the feast of St Clare, and mystical songs to St Ursula by Hildegard of Bingen. Readings are taken from the writings of St Clare and Hildegard.

Download this description as a PDF file.

Listen to music

Alessandro Grandi: Anima mea liquefacta est

Alessandro Grandi: O dulcis et o pia

Alessandro Grandi: Versa est in luctum

Lodovico Agostini: Veni sponsa Christi

Fees are quoted exclusive of travel and accommodation, where applicable. All concert/production costs, including organ hire where necessary, to be met by the promoter.