Into Flight: Three Songs on Mystical Texts by Mechthild von Mag

Description

Into Flight

Three Songs on Mystical Texts by Mechthild von Magdeburg

The texts are excerpts 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. 

Maria Case is a Toronto-based pianist, choral conductor, composer and teacher. As a composer, most of her work centers on the voice and is inspired by texts from a wide variety of sources and traditions.  She is particularly drawn to sacred poetry in the mystical tradition, and happily traverses centuries and continents searching for words that speak.  Recent choral works include O Living Flame, The World’s Desire, Alleluya!, Sing Out, My Soul, and the cantata In Winter.  Among her songs sets are Empty Wake, Nightsongs, and Gallery. Maria graduated from the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto with a degree in composition.

Maria is an active piano and theory examiner, an adjudicator at festivals and competitions and a frequent lecturer on piano and theory pedagogy.  Since 2007, she has been Chief Examiner of Theoretical Subjects for the Royal Conservatory of Music Examinations.  She is the Music Director of Glebe Road United Church in Toronto and of the Annex Singers.