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Caritas
from illuminare
1/12
for SATB Chorus, Piano, and Violin
Optional chamber orchestra accompaniment
Text by Hildegard von Bingen
Elaine Hagenberg Music - EH1021
Description
Caritas, the second movement from Illuminare, portrays a tender season of beauty as the elegant words of Hildegard von Bingen hearken back to the goodness and purity of Eden. The opening measures feature the treble voices weaving “from the depths most excellent to beyond the stars.” As tenors and basses join, all voices ascend together to highlight “pacis” (peace). The piece concludes with serene sustained tones, creating a concert selection to be cherished on any program.
Caritas can be performed with SATB chorus, piano and solo violin, or SATB chorus with orchestra accompaniment. (Optional flute, optional oboe, optional horn in F, optional percussion, piano, strings 2.2.2.2.1 min.)
the Inspiration
Text
Love abounds in all,
from the depths most excellent
to beyond the stars,
and loving toward all,
she has given the highest king
the kiss of peace.
-Hildegard von Bingen
Composer Notes
“Caritas” is the second movement of a larger work entitled Illuminare. Inspired by the poetry of Hildegard von Bingen, “Caritas” tenderly invites listeners into the gentle beauty of women’s voices—hearkening back to an image of Eden and portraying a season of goodness and purity.
Musical inspiration for this movement originated from “Suscepit Israel” in J.S. Bach’s Magnificat in D, where, similarly, the soprano and alto lines gracefully weave and intertwine.
As "Caritas" continues, delicate treble melodies are echoed in the bass voices, gradually ascending to highlight the word “pacis” (peace). Hildegard von Bingen’s words were the perfect fit for this movement, being both simple and yet expansive, painting an entire vista in the space of a few lines and dwelling on love and peace.
“Love abounds in all,
from the depths most excellent
to beyond the stars...”
- Hildegard von Bingen
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