In Mulieribus (IM), Portland’s celebrated women’s vocal ensemble, invites audiences to step away from the holiday hustle into the serene beauty of their annual December concert, In The Stillness. This cherished holiday tradition offers an oasis of calm on the darkest nights of the year.
A Journey Through Time: From Pérotin to Schafer
Spanning centuries, from the 12th century to modern compositions, In The Stillness features music rarely performed due to its complexity. The program is centered on two masterpieces that showcase the vocal artistry of IM:
Pérotin’s Viderunt omnes (1198): Considered one of the earliest surviving examples of four-part polyphony, this ground-breaking work was written for Christmas Day and premiered in the Gothic cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. Its intricate, interweaving vocal lines reflect remarkable innovations and compositional genius.
R. Murray Schafer’s Snowforms (1981): Based on various Inuit words for snow, this piece features subtle improvisational sounds from the singers, beautifully evoking the stillness and textures of a white, winter landscape. As Schafer noted, the work was inspired by the memory of studying snow forms from his own farmhouse window.
These virtuosic works appear alongside ancient carols and traditional songs from around the world, including modern arrangements by IM’s Artistic Director Anna Song.
In Mulieribus invites you to embrace the hush of winter and celebrate the season together with this uniquely inspired program.
