Cecilia, Vergine Romana [CF:UE031719]

Arvo Part received a commission to compose this work from the Agenzia Romana per la preparazione del Giubileo, that was, the body responsible for the organisation of the Holy Year 2000 in Rome. Part was asked to write a work to be performed by the Chorus and Orchestra of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. Part was inspired by the story of the martyrdom of Saint Cecilia and he embarked on a search for a suitable text in 1999. He eventually found one in Latin at the seminary in the Austrian city of Graz: it is the Breviarium Romanum (S. Ceciliae Virg. et Mart., Lectio iii for 22 November) which contains a concise description of the saint's life. An old translation of the text into Italian has been located in the library of the Monastero di Bose in Northern Italy.