Sanctissima: Vespers and Benediction for the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary

Featuring

Miscellaneous
Suzi Digby
ORA Singers
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Anonymous (Gregorian Chant)
David Bednall

Oliver Tarney
John Joubert
Giles Swayne
Kim Porter
James MacMillan
Julian Anderson
Anonymous
Sven-David Sandström
Francisco Guerrero
Matthew Martin
Felice Anerio

Did you know?

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Recording & Production

The album's title, Sanctissima, comes from Matthew Martin's motet of the same name, which is featured on the recording.

Composition History

Julian Anderson's Magnificat was specifically composed for this recording and is its world premiere recording.

Composition History

The commissioned composers on this album were asked to 'reflect' the plainchant music that precedes their pieces in the recording.

Historical Context

Vespers, the office of evening prayer in the Roman Catholic Church, has origins traceable to the early Christian Church, with Christians praying seven times a day.

Historical Context

The Catholic Feast of the Assumption, celebrated on August 15th, developed from the early Church tradition of the Dormition of the Mother of God, which states Mary died without suffering.

Interpretation

The ORA Singers, the performing ensemble, are known for commissioning contemporary works and interpolating them into traditional services, as seen on this album.

Album & Artwork

This album is a "fantasy construction" of a Vespers and Benediction service, not a historical reconstruction, performed in honor of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.