Aaron Jay Kernis Musica Celestis

Sir Donald Runnicles Conductor

American composer Aaron Jay Kernis is one of the world’s most acclaimed composers living today. Musica Celestis began life as the Second movement of his own 1990 String Quartet, before Kernis then rearranged for full string orchestra. He says: “Musica Celestis is inspired by the medieval conception of … the singing of the angels in heaven in praise of God without end.” He also notes the influence of “the soaring work of Hildegard of Bingen” on this piece.