The Order of the Virtues

Address

Dag Hammarskjölds väg 3,
115 27 Stockholm

The Order of the Virtues

Description

A significant part of the Scottish composer James MacMillan's extensive catalogue of works consists of music for choir, both with and – most often – without instruments. As a practising Catholic, spiritual and religious elements are often present in his music. MacMillan's great choral work Ordo Virtutum, "The Order of the Virtues", was premiered in the Peterskirche in Leipzig in January 2024 but has roots stretching back almost 900 years. Around the year 1150 the abbess Hildegard of Bingen created text and music for the original work of the same name: a kind of allegorical liturgical drama about the human soul's struggle between living by the divine virtues and falling for the Devil's constant temptations. MacMillan has created his own setting of Hildegard's text, in his own style but with clear inspiration from his medieval colleague. He weaves in melodies reminiscent of medieval church music; they often move within smaller intervals and have a modal musical language. Like Hildegard, MacMillan alternates between choral and solo parts. The choir portrays the divine Virtues, Patriarchs and prophets, and the Souls who are shackled in physical bodies. Soloists from the Radio Choir give voice to the individual virtues. The concert is broadcast on Sveriges Radio P2 on Friday 11 December at about 20.50 (after Bruckner's Fifth). Programme: James MacMillan: Ordo Virtutum Hildegard von Bingen: O Virtus Sapientiae