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Encore: Francis Poulenc (1936) - Litanies a la Vierge Noire - Accentus Chamber Choir with organ accompaniment
The following is Google-translated from the French description with slight correction by myself:
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Francis Poulenc: Litanies to the Black Virgin, Our Lady of Rocamadour, for women's or children's choir with organ accompaniment.
Performed by Accentus Chamber Choir under the direction of Laurence Equilbey.
In the 12th century Benedictine monks discovered in a tomb in the intact body of a hermit: Amadour. A Christian legend equates Amadour to Zacchaeus in Luke's gospel. It would follow that Zacchaeus, with his girlfriend Veronica, left Palestine to evangelize Aquitaine and southern Gaul. [MrF comment - I wonder if it was the Veronica of Veronica's Veil? But then Veronica's Veil is just a legend...]
In any case, the monks soon built a first sanctuary in Rocamadour. Many pilgrims come to venerate the relics of St. Amadour / Zacchaeus and a statue of the Black Virgin. King Louis IX (St. Louis), Blanche of Castile, and Bernard of Clairvaux are among the most famous pilgrims.
Centuries later, Francis Poulenc came as well. Driven by what he himself called a peasant devotion, he came to Rocamadour in 1936. He soon found the impetus to compose these Litanies to the Black Virgin, the first work of religious inspiration in Poulenc's career.
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