« Celebremus », originally written in 1997 and scored for women’s chorus and piano, was commissioned by Elektra Women’s Choir with the assistance of the Canada Council. It is a setting of a text taken from the 13th century manuscript, Carmina Burana.

The Codex Buranus, discovered in the Bavarian monastery of Benediktbeuern in 1803, is the most famous and extensive collection of medieval Latin poetry to have survived – a rich and varied anthology of moral, satirical, amorous and historical songs, hymns, as well as short religious plays.

« Celebremus » attempts to recapture both the age and festive nature of the text through the use of dance-like rhythms common to medieval music, the allusion to chant especially in reference to scholarly learning, exuberant piano figuration, and strong consonant writing between the two voice parts.

The composer would like to thank Robert Cooper, Artistic Director of the Orpheus Choir of Toronto, for commissioning an arrangement of « Celebremus » for mixed choir and piano.