The Song of Songs stands alone as one of the most remarkable books of the Bible. Written in ancient Hebrew around the third century BCE, the poem consists of a young woman and man revealing their passionate love for each other in their own voices.

For this recording we could select only a fraction of the compositions devoted to the text, but we have been able to represent seven centuries of music. All the composers draw us into the world of The Song – a world strikingly open-hearted and passionate and remarkably at one with nature, in which the passage from innocence to experience is filled not with dire consequences but with the joy of discovery.

The Toronto Chamber Choir is known for its historically authentic performance practices. The 40-voice group made its reputation with such magnificent works as Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610 and Henry Purcell’s The Fairy Queen. Recently, the choir has spearheaded innovative collaborations with other arts organizations including Dancemakers, one of Canada’s leading modern dance companies, who choreographed dance movements for the original Song of Songs performances.

HEALEY WILLAN

1. I Beheld Her

2. Rise Up, My Love

PABLO CASALS

3. Nigra Sum

EDWARD GREIG

4. Hvas Es Du Dog Skjon

EDVARD BAIRSTOW

5. I Sat Down Under His Shadow

WILLIAM BILLINGS

6. I am the Rose of Sharon

ANDREW DONALDSON

7. I Slept, but my Heart was Awake

YHEZKEL BRAUN

8. Shir Hasharim

HENRY PURCELL

9. My Beloved Spake

TOMÁS LUIS de VICTORIA

10. Nigra Sum, Ed Formosa

MELCHIOR FRANCK

11. Ich Sucht des Nachts

GIOVANNI da PALESTRINA

12. Quam Pulchri Sunt

JOHN DUNSTABLE

13. Quam Pulchra Es

GREGORIAN CHANT

14. Flores Appareurunt