Photo: Mark Kwiatek

La Santísima Virgen Maria
ModernMedieval Voices

The Cult of the Virgin Mary reached its apex during the 12th- and 13th-centuries. All across Western Europe, evidence can be found of music written for her celebration. Led by Dr. Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek (formerly of the world-renowned Anonymous 4) ModernMedieval Voices offers this program which features settings of Latin Marian texts found in two 13th-century Spanish sources: the virtuosic 2- and 3-part polyphony found in the Codex Las Huelgas and the chant canons of the Llibre Vermell de Montserrat, as well as selections from the Cantigas de Santa Maria. Also included will be well-known Marian hymns and antiphons that were used as inspiration for several of the polyphonic pieces featured in the program, including new settings of the four Marian antiphons by composer Laura Jobin-Acosta.

Broadcast on WKCR 89.9 FM Friday, February 12

“Although more than eight centuries separate us from this music, ModernMedieval’s approach to Hildegard is above all natural, emphasizing her fluent expressivity in perfect medieval Latin. Hildegard is always a good listen, and juxtaposed with sympathetic contemporary works, her beauties were especially resplendent.”
—Patrick Rucker, The Washington Post

Artists
Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek 
Martha Cluver 
Chloe Holgate