A fascinating concept: a collection of liturgical chants centred around the figure of St Agnes and other martyred virgins. Drawing a line through history, this set of chants reflect the century long abuse of women in every conceivable way, and in cultures all over the world.

Since the early days, Christianity has shown a reverence and respect towards virgins, usually young girls who rejected the advances of the occupying Roman forces, arguing that they were instead married to Christ. Often, these girls were raped, tortured and crucified by the authorities, and such atrocities extended through the Dark and Middle Ages and beyond.

This stirring new CD sets Gregorian, Ambrosian chant and two episodes from the life of St Agnes, creating a musical memorial to female victims of violence and abuse, raising a plea for freedom, respect and peace to be established in today’s world. Poems and texts by Tehlia Lieberman and Marthe Link, read in English, punctuate the chants, and there are moving accounts by women raped in Central Africa and girls forced to enter homes for single mothers and give up their children.

The extensive text in the booklet is a plea for female freedom, equal rights, respect and peace, regardless of religion or culture.

These are new recordings, with a 48-page booklet containing extensive notes about the project by the artists, and complete texts of the chants, poems and readings in Latin, English and Dutch.

Contents:
1. Litany – Part 1
2. Tertio decimo AMEM 434
3. De virginibus (1) LHo 1072
4. Agnes beatae virginis LH 341
5. from 2 Samuel 13: Amnon and Tamar
6. Psalm 43 (42): Iudica me Deus PM 137
7. from Jours de famine et de détresse
8. Ingressa Agnes – Psalm 147: 16 AM2 6
9. from The men who killed me
10. Improperium GT 148
11. from The Magdalen
12. Vox in rama – Psalm 79 (78): 1 GT 638
13. Agnes famula LV 567
14. De virginibus (2) LHo 1072
15. Igne divini LH 340
16. Christus factus est GN 108
17. from Tehila Lieberman: The Holy Text of Naeeda Aurangzeb 1
18. Ave verum CS 10
19. from Tehila Lieberman: The Holy Text of Naeeda Aurangzeb 2
20. Beati mundo corde – Psalm 37 (36): 1 GN 237
21. from Marthe Link: Forgive us our trespasses
22. Stans beata Agnes – Magnificat AM1 789
23. Litany – Part 2