Deum laudent, o Maria, Pro te Virgo puerpera

for a cappella chorus
1994
10:00"

The text of Deum laudent, o Maria, Pro te Virgo puerpera (1994) is taken from a hymn of the liturgical office that was written during the late fourteenth century by St. Birgitta of Sweden (d. 1373) and her collaborator Master Peter Olovsson of Skänninge (d. 1378). This liturgical office, which contains readings, prayers, hymns, and antiphons, is still performed today by the Birgittine sisters in Vadstena, Sweden.This text praises God for the glory of the Virgin Mary and beseeches all the stars and planets of heaven as well as all the living animals and people on earth to glorify God for her. This work was composed for a conference on Mary in Medieval Sweden and is based in part on the opening musical motive found in the hymn.

Please click on the links below to obtain a pdf file containing the score and text for Deum laudent, o Maria, Pro te Virgo puerpera and an audio excerpt of the Henry Gibbons conducting the Canticum Novum performance of this work.