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Description
Ave virgo sanctissima was commissioned by Robert Sharpe and the Choir of York Minster, for the service of "Nine Lessons and Carols" in 2023. The text is a lyrical prayer which praises the virtue of Mary with grand and opulent language; musically, this is echoed by a florid and warm soundworld. After a gentle opening section with flowing melodic lines, the music takes on a more tender, fragile mood, to evoke the floral metaphors which express Mary’s delicate beauty. Ideas from the opening return, expanding to fill the full range of the choir, with rich bass notes and soaring treble lines. This final gesture aims to capture the resplendence of the text. The piece closes with a soft melody which floats skywards into the upper voices. This setting would suit an experienced choir as an anthem or concert piece, originally intended for the Christmas season, but equally fit for occasions throughout the year as a devotional piece.
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More from this series
The Boosey & Hawkes Contemporary Choral Series combines music from well-established figures such as James MacMillan, Karl Jenkins, and Einojuhani Rautavaara and the finest emerging choral composers of our time including Thomas Hewitt Jones, Joseph Phibbs, Will Todd and Gareth Treseder.
Diverse in terms of theme and mood, with works suitable for a variety of festive and commemorative occasions, both sacred and secular, this series provides an exciting collection of contemporary works for choirs of all types, voicings and abilities.
Spanning many different styles including the jazz-influenced world of Will Todd’s Jazz Carols and Iain Farrington’s The Blues Service, the tranquil beauty of James MacMillan’s Ave Maris Stella, and the energetic jubilation of Gareth Treseder’s Blessed be that Maid Marie, the series provides a wealth of new music, perfect for choirs looking to expand their horizons and explore new repertoire.
