Escott O VIRIDISSIMA VIRGA

Harry Escott

for chorus and ensemble

Full score

Chester Music

The first performance of O Viridissima Virga took place on 5 December 2010 at St Bride's Church, Fleet Street, London, performed by the choir of St Bride's, conducted by Matthew Morley.

Instrumentation SSAATBar soloists SATB divisi chorus Horn in F Trumpet in B Percussion (1 player): Vibraphone Large Rivet Cymbal or Gong Bass drum Tambourine

Piano Steel-stringed acoustic guitar Organ

Duration: circa 25 minutes

Programme note O Viridissima Virga explores the Christmas story through the poems of women writers from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These texts present an unusual and more complex reflection upon Advent and the Nativity: even the most joyful moments are often wrought with a sense of foreboding for the suffering to come. “Awful is this watching place, awful what I see from hence; Sleep, sleep!�. This desperate line from the lullaby conjures up the maternal sensibility that infuses much of these texts.

The poems are framed by two settings of hymns to the Virgin Mary, written by the 12th century Benedictine Abbess, Hildegard of Bingen.

The instrumental parts are available on hire from the publisher.

The vocal score is on sale, order number CH82203.