Several fragments of Hildegard von Bingen, including that referred to in the title (?Hail, noble girl?), a lyric in praise of the Virgin Mary, are incorporated into this work. Another source is an acrostic mentioned in the?Vita Sanctoe Hildegardis; a mysterious pattern of letters in the form of a cross, discovered by a young priest on his altar-cloth, and explicated by Hildegard. A pastoral opening introduces a quasi-passacaglia using a pattern of pitches derived from the acrostic. After a central climax incorporating a musical phrase from Hildegard's own chant setting of the lyric, a second passacaglia reaches its apotheosis in another Hildegard melody, this celebrating the Incarnation: ?Thus your womb held joy.?

This piece is discussed in an article in Religions journal. Click here to read.

First Performance: 15 September 1996, Performance Area, City University London.

[embed]https://www.impulse-music.co.uk/brianinglis/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2015/08/Inglis-Ave-generosa.mp3[/embed]

Recorded 15/9/1996, Performance Area, City University: City Lights/Brian Inglis