Name: Reger: Benedictus, Op. 59, Nr. 9 (Live) by Christopher Holman
Duration: 5 min 51 s
Description: Live performance on the 1889 Sauer organ at Thomaskirche in Leipzig, Germany.

Cohors Milicie by Caitlin Harrison
Performed by the Oxford Philharmonic, conducted by John Traill 

Composer's Note:
The concept of the work was inspired by J.S. Bach's 'Ein Feste Burg ist Unser Gott'. Instead of the pre-existing material by Martin Luther, I have used Hildegard von Bingen's 'O Cohors Milicie' (O Cohort of the Guard), part 33 of 'Symphonia armonie celestium revelationum' (Symphony of the harmony of heavenly revelations). The source work is harmonised with later quotations from the same chant, as in the Bach. Instead of each section being fugual however, my piece incorporates a mixture of canons and fughuettas. While the pitch and stresses of the line remain intact, the rhythmic patterns are mine. The chordal accompaniments represent the 'celestial choir', the harmony of which is built upon the intervals of a fifth and minor third, inverted from the opening two intervals of the chant. This, combined with the military style rhythmic polyphony, works to achieve an overall sonority more similar to a work such as 'Spem in Alium' by Tallis, rather than the clear counterpoint of Bach's 'Ein Feste Burg'.

Original Chant Text:
Psalm antiphon for the Apostles from 'Symphonia armonie celestium revelationum' part IV, Songs for the Celestial Choirs.

O cohors milicie
floris virge
non spinate,
tu sonus
orbis terre
circuiens regiones
insanorum sensuum
equlantium cum porcis,
quos expugnasti
per infusum adiutorem
ponentis radices
in tabernacula
pleni operis Verbi Patris.

O cohort of the guard
of the thornless branch's flower:
You are the sound
of all the world,
surrounding all the paces where
the senseless sensuous
are feasting with the swine
that you subdue
by the Comforter, the Aide poured out
of the Father's Word that plants the roots
that grow into the tabernacles of
his fulfilled work. 

Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179)

Cohors Milicie (Oxford Philharmonic)

Live performance on the 1889 Sauer organ at Thomaskirche in Leipzig, Germany.

Orgelvesper in Thomaskirche Leipzig

Reger: Benedictus, Op. 59, Nr. 9 (Live)

Christopher Holman, organist

View concert program here:  https://bit.ly/2PMVt37 

Recorded live in concert 26 August 2018
St Philip Presbyterian Church • Houston, TX
Paul Fritts Organ, Op. 29 (2010) 3m/48s

Christopher Holman — Organ Concert — 26 August 2018

Christopher Holman is an American organist and musicologist in Oxford, United Kingdom. www.christopherholman.com

Reger: Benedictus, Op. 59, Nr. 9 (Live)

Christopher Holman

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