Into Flight: Three Songs on Mystical Texts
Three songs for solo voice and piano, set to mystical texts by Mechthild von Magdeburg
Three songs set to text excerpted from Das fliessende Licht der Gottheit (The Flowing Light of Divinity) by the 13th century German mystical writer Mechthild von Magdeburg. This visionary work contains Mechthild’s devotional outpourings in an exuberant mixture of poetry, prose and dramatic monologue. The music, with its rhythmic freedom and lush modal harmonies, seeks to represent her voice.
The texts for these songs have been adapted by the composer, with assistance from Mechtild Hoppenrath who provided translations that are both literal and elegant.
The song cycle was commissioned by Joanna Manning for her ordination as an Anglican priest, March 2012. Soaring Eagle is performed by Melanie Conly.
Into Flight is published by Plangere, and is a available for high, low or medium voices and piano.
Maria Case’s… compositions possess a truly mystical element and evoke a deep emotional response in both performer and listener. Her settings of both spiritual and secular works contain a rich tapestry of sound and harmony that is also uniquely Canadian. I feel privileged to have sung both her choral works and art songs.— Joanna Manning, Commissioner of Into Flight