Composer

:

James MacMillan

Genre

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

2012

Average_duration

:

5:38

Cecilia Virgo is a choral work composed by James MacMillan in 2012. It was premiered on November 22, 2012, by the Choir of Westminster Cathedral, conducted by Martin Baker. The piece is divided into three movements, each of which is dedicated to a different saint. The first movement, "St. Cecilia," is a setting of a text by John Dryden. It begins with a solo soprano singing a plaintive melody, which is then taken up by the choir. The music is characterized by its use of dissonance and complex harmonies, which create a sense of tension and unease. The movement ends with a quiet, contemplative section in which the choir sings a hymn to St. Cecilia. The second movement, "St. John the Baptist," is a setting of a text by the composer himself. It begins with a solo tenor singing a melody that is reminiscent of plainsong. The choir then enters, singing a complex polyphonic texture that is characterized by its use of overlapping rhythms and shifting harmonies. The movement ends with a quiet, meditative section in which the choir sings a hymn to St. John the Baptist. The third movement, "St. Margaret," is a setting of a text by the composer's wife, Lynne MacMillan. It begins with a solo alto singing a melody that is accompanied by a simple, repetitive figure in the choir. The music gradually builds in intensity, with the choir singing a complex polyphonic texture that is characterized by its use of overlapping rhythms and shifting harmonies. The movement ends with a triumphant section in which the choir sings a hymn to St. Margaret. Overall, Cecilia Virgo is a complex and challenging work that showcases James MacMillan's mastery of choral composition. The piece is characterized by its use of dissonance, complex harmonies, and shifting rhythms, which create a sense of tension and unease. Despite its complexity, however, the music is also deeply spiritual and meditative, reflecting the composer's Catholic faith and his devotion to the saints.

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