Feminine Fusion

April 20-26, 2019: Faithful Music

by Diane Jones

April 20, 2019

“The women who first made our music had lives as compelling as the music itself.”  – Deborah Roberts

Faith is expressed in many different ways, and the music that is rooted in faith can be powerful.  This week we’ll share music of faith written or performed by women over the centuries.  From sacred music written by a medieval abbess, to a sacred cantata from the Baroque, to modern vocal works, and even a string quartet inspired by a medieval manuscript.  And a very special performance, from the Cathedral at Notre Dame in Paris, so recently devastated by fire.

Faithful Music

Emma Lou Diemer:  O Come, Let Us Sing unto the Lord
Messiah College Concert Choir; Linda L. Tedford, conductor
Brian Jones, piano
“Music Down In My Soul”
Mark Records 51861

Hildegard of Bingen:  Cum vox sanguinus
Anonymous 4
“11,000 Virgins”
Harmonia Mundi 907200

Anonymous:  Agnes, Beatae Virgins
Celestial Sirens
“Sacred Hearts and Secret Music”
Divine Art 25077

Cipriano de Rore:  Regina caeli
Musica Secreta
“Sacred Hearts and Secret Music”
Divine Art 25077

Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre:  Esther (Cantata – selections)
Anne Azema, Lydia Knutson, Laurie Monahan – sopranos
Frances Conover Fitch, harpsichord
“Protégée of the Sun King”
Centaur 2781

Helen Mackinnon:  Gloria in excelsis Deo
Prague Mixed Chamber Choir; Jiří Petrdlík, conductor
“Voices of Earth and Air, Vol. II”
Navona 6221

Stacy Garrop:  String Quartet No. 4: Illuminations (selections)
Avalon String Quartet
“Illuminations”
Cedille 90000156

Bruce Saylor:  Jubilate Fanfare – Jubilate Fantasy
Jessye Norman, soprano
Les Maîtrise de Radio France
Lyon National Opera Orchestra; Lawrence Foster, conductor
“Jessye Norman at Notre Dame”
Philips 432731

J.S. Bach:  Ave Maria
Jessye Norman, soprano
Les Maîtrise de Radio France
Lyon National Opera Orchestra; Lawrence Foster, conductor
“Jessye Norman at Notre Dame”
Philips 432731

Traditional:  Go Tell It On the Mountain
Jessye Norman, soprano
Les Maîtrise de Radio France
Lyon National Opera Orchestra; Lawrence Foster, conductor
“Jessye Norman at Notre Dame”
Philips 432731

Run time:  58:30

Feminine Fusion highlights the roles of women in classical music. Host Diane Jones brings you stories and music of the women who create, perform, and inspire. Produced in the studios at WCNY-FM.