SOMM Recordings announces the exciting label debut of Voice with Hildegard Portraits, marking the tenth anniversary of the canonisation of the 12th-century spiritual leader, theologian, mystic, scientist and composer, St. Hildegard of Bingen. Hailed by Gramophone as inheritors of the slot left by the dissolution of Anonymous 4, Voice Emily Burn, Victoria Couper and Clemmie Franks formed in 2006. Singing together since their early teens in the Oxford Girls Choir, and as members of Stevie Wisharts Sinfonye, they have toured throughout the UK, USA and Europe. Hildegard Portraits draws on close relationships between Voice and the featured composers. It takes its title from the first recording of Laura Moodys seven-part setting of Hildegards letters forming a portrait, Moody says, of notso much a saint, seer or symbol, but a woman who lived and loved. Their collaboration with friend and mentor Stevie Wishart continues with first recordings of Aseruz trium vocum and O choruscans lux (choir version), responses to what Voice describe as the soaring, melismatic lines, the flourishes and ornamentation, and mesmerising unison sound of St. Hildegards own music, heard to sublime effect in six pieces, including O clarissima mater, O virtus sapientie and Nunc gaudeant. Other exclusive/first recordings include Marcus Davidsons Musical Harmony and O Boundless Ecclesia, Emily Levys compelling blend of folk-inspired melody and Hildegardian ornamentation, How Sweetly You Burn, and Tim Lea Youngs Three Wings: pt.1 (all composed, like Moodys title work, for Voice). Ivan Moodys O quam mirabilis exquisitely sets Hildegards own text expressing to perfection awe at the mystery of the Creator God. Voice has self-released two albums Musical Harmony (2013) and Patterns ofLove (2015). Collaborative releases include I Have Set My Hert So Hy with Dufay Collective (2015), and Janeks The Diary of One Who Disappeared; Moravian Folksongs; kadla with Julius Drake and Nicky Spence (2019).