Harry Escott

O Viridissima Virga

This is the Vocal Score for British composer Harry Escott's O Viridissima Virga, which explores a fresh take on the Christmas story by delving into women's poetry from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, arranged for SATB. The first performance of O Viridissima Virga took place on the 5th December 2010 at St. Bride's Church in London, performed by the choir of St. Bride's. Lasting around 25 minutes, the texts on which the composition is based are those written by females around the turn of the 20th century, presenting an innovative and fascinating approach to the periods of Advent and Nativity, with a constant undercurrent of foreboding that backgrounds even the most beautiful parts of the piece's melody. The poems are frames by two settings of hymns to the Virgin Mary, written by a 12th century Benedictine Abbess. Composer Harry Escott has studied at Oxford University and the Royal College of Music and is primarily known as a composer of film scores. He has written for critically acclaimed films such as Hard Candy, Deep Water, Shame and Welcome to the Punch.