Cantantibus organis

Cantantibus organis opens with a joyful exuberance, the SATB voices weaving together to create a rich and celebratory soundscape. Alessandro Kirschner sets a Latin text drawn from the life of St Cecilia, patron saint of music. The music reflects the plea of the virgin martyr, who, while the organ played, sang to God from her heart. Her prayer, Fiat Domine cor meum et corpus meum immaculatum ut non confundar, implores that her heart and body remain pure, so that she will not be put to shame. The composer captures the devotional intensity of this plea, interspersing it with further reflections on her diligent fasting and prayer, ensuring the musical setting is both textually and emotionally resonant.