Experience the Warmth of Caritas in Elaine Hagenberg's Illuminare

In our second installment, we invite you to experience the tender warmth of Caritas, a movement in Illuminare that offers a gentle contrast to the brilliance of Splendor.

“Love abounds in all,” writes Hagenberg, inspired by the poetic reflections of Hildegard von Bingen, a medieval abbess and visionary.

Caritas transports us from the vibrant energy of Splendor into a place of deep warmth and comfort, creating an atmosphere of peace. The women’s voices lead this movement, flowing with a soft, caressing melody, and are accompanied by harmonies that seem to wrap gently around the listener, bringing von Bingen’s words to life.

Imagine the choir’s voices creating a soundscape of compassion, radiating warmth. Each note builds on the idea of love as a universal, steadfast presence, an idea beautifully depicted in Hagenberg’s music.

A few elements to listen for:

• The gentle prominence of women’s voices—their timbre brings a comforting warmth to the piece. 

• The enveloping harmonies that give Caritas its peaceful, loving character.

• The closing line, “the kiss of peace”—how does the music embody this gentle farewell?

Take a quiet moment with Caritas, and let its message of boundless love surround you. This movement offers a serene contrast to Splendor, reminding us of the beauty of compassion and connection.

When was the last time you felt the warmth of unconditional love or compassion?

You’ll be able to hear Caritas live at our upcoming concert, where we’ll perform Illuminare in its entirety. Until then, we hope these reflections and samples bring you closer to the music and its message.

Stay tuned, in our next post, we’ll explore the depths of Nox.