ST CAECILIA - MUSICAL RECORDING SAMPLES OF WORKS IN HER HONOUR

Below, if you wish, you can access the extract recordings of the works, listed on our Music List page with direct links, as having extract recordings available, which will give you an idea as to how five different composers have glorified St Caecilia (St Cecilia).

The first sample, the oldest, is an extract from Marc Antoine Charpentier's "Caecilia, Virgo et Martyr", which is the introduction section to the work until the first main chorus (not included here).

Portrait of Marc Antoine Charpentier

Caecilia, Virgo et Martyr Introduction to "Caecilia, Virgo et Martyr"

If you wish to return to the list of music, please click here to access.

The next sample is an extract from Henry Purcell's "Ode for St Cecilia's Day", which is the movement named "Hail, Bright Cecilia".

Portrait of Henry Purcell

Hail, Bright Cecilia Aria and Chorus from "Ode for St Cecilia's Day"

If you wish to return to the list of music, please click here to access.

The next sample is an extract from the beginning of Franz Liszt's "Sainte Cécile. Légende", which is a dramatic setting for romantic orchestra and soprano solo.

Portrait of Franz Liszt

Sainte Cécile. Légende Introduction to "Sainte Cécile. Légende"

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Now follows an extract from the beginning of Benjamin Britten's "Hymn to St Cecilia", which is a setting for choir.

Portrait of Benjamin Britten

Hymn to St Cecilia Introduction to "Hymn to St Cecilia"

If you wish to return to the list of music, please click here to access.

Now finally comes an extract from the beginning of Gerald Finzi's "For St Cecilia", which is a dramatic setting for orchestra, full chorus and soloists in the late romantic style.

Portrait of Gerald Finzi

For St. Cecilia Introduction to "For St. Cecilia"

If you wish to return to the list of music, please click here to access.

It is hoped that the above recordings might provide some extra insight into how different approaches have been made with music over the period from around 1680 (the first work by Marc Antoine Charpentier) right through to 1947 (the final work by Gerald Finzi). It is believed that composers will continue to glorify St Cecilia in the same way as others before them right through from 1570. The Cecilian influence is particularly evident in both what is now the United Kingdom and France (Franz Liszt's main tribute, as the sample extract recording on this web site demonstrates, is in the French language). The influence is also in Italy and the Italian example in the list of works which appears above the access to the sample recordings is the Messa di Santa Cecilia of Alessandro Scarlatti. It is also, since 1855, that efforts were made to establish St Cecilia societies in Austria and, subsequently, in Germany. Please click here if you would like more information about these Austrian and German developments, which is a repeat of the link in the above list of works in relation to Franz Schöpf, and the information will open in a new window. The texts or lyrics of most vocal or choral tributes are in Latin or English.