Emily Burn - Hildegard Portraits - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

SOMM Recordings announces the exciting tag debut of Voice with Hildegard Portraits, marking the tenth anniversary of the canonization of the 12th-century spiritual leader, theologian, mystic, scientist and composer, St. Hildegard of Bingen. Hailed by Gramophone as inheritors of Inchthe slot left by the dissolution of Anonymous 4Inch, Voice - Emily Burn, Victoria Couper and Clemmie Franks - formed in 2006. Singing together since their early teens in the Oxford Girls' Choir, and as members of Stevie Wishart's Sinfonye, they have toured throughout the UK, USA and Europe. Hildegard Portraits draws on close relationships between Voice and the featured composers. It takes it's title from the first recording of Laura Moody's seven-part setting of Hildegard's letters forming a portrait, Moody says, of Inchnot so much a saint, seer or symbol, but a woman who lived and lovedInch. Their collaboration with Inchfriend and mentorInch Stevie Wishart continues with first recordings of Aseruz trium vocum and O choruscans lux (choir version), responses to what Voice describe as Inchthe soaring, melismatic lines, the flourishes and ornamentation, and mesmerizing unison soundInch of St. Hildegard's own music, heard to sublime effect in six pieces, including O clarissima mater, O virtus sapientie and Nunc gaudeant. Other exclusive/first recordings include Marcus Davidson's Musical Harmony and O Boundless Ecclesia, Emily Levy's compelling blend of folk-inspired melody and Hildegardian ornamentation, How Sweetly You Burn, and Tim Lea Young's Three Wings pt.1 (all composed, like Moody's title work, for Voice).Ivan Moody's O quam mirabilis exquisitely sets Hildegard's own text Inchexpressing to perfection awe at the mystery of the Creator God.Inch