SSA a cappella
Based on Hildegard von Bingen’s chant of the same name, this lyrical and meditative piece works equally well for girl’s choirs and women’s choirs.
Text
O virga mediatrix (Hildegard von Bingen)
O virga mediatrix,
sancta viscera tua
mortem superaverunt
et venter tuus
omnes creaturas illuminavit
in pulchro flore
de suavissima integritate
clausi pudoris tui orto.
O mediating branch
Your holy flesh
has overcome death,
and your womb
has illuminated all creatures
through the beautiful flower
born from the sweetest integrity
of your chaste honor.
Program note
O virga mediatrix was commissioned for performance by the Medieval Women’s Choir and Margriet Tindemans, Artistic Director. The text for this work is by Hildegard von Bingen, and the music is based on the opening segment of Hildegard’s original chant. This chant is quoted at the opening of the piece and provides a springboard for the development of musical themes throughout the work.