A Feather on the Breath of God
A Feather on the Breath of God is an album of sacred vocal music written in the 12th century by the German abbess Hildegard of Bingen, and recorded by British vocal ensemble Gothic Voices with English soprano Emma Kirkby. It was released by the Hyperion Records label in April 1985.Production
It was recorded in St. Jude's Church, Hampstead Garden Suburb, London, on 14 September 1981. The music and Latin texts are from a contemporary medieval manuscript edited by Dr. Christopher Page, who also directed the recorded performance itself.Accolades
The album received the Early-Medieval Gramophone Award for 1982–1983.Legacy
In 2020, the album was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".Track listing
All compositions written by Hildegard of Bingen.
- “Columba aspexit”
- “Ave, generosa”
- “O ignis spiritus”
- “O Ierusalem”
- “O Euchari”
- “O viridissima virga”
- “O presul vere civitatis”
- “O Ecclesia”
Personnel
Musicians
- Emma Kirkby – soprano
- Emily Van Evera – soprano
- Poppy Holden – soprano
- Judith Stell – soprano
- Margaret Philpot – contralto
- Andrew Parrott – tenor
- Kevin Breen – tenor
- Howard Milner – tenor
- Doreen Muskett – symphony
- Robert White – reed drones
- Christopher Page – director
Recording and production personnel
- Tony Faulkner – recording engineer
- Martin Compton – recording producer
- Terry Shannon – front design
- Edward Perry – executive producer
