The Martyred Virgins

a Gregorian memorial to female victims of violence

Since the early days, Christianity has shown a reverence and respect towards virgins, usually young girls who rejected the advances of the occupying Roman forces, arguing that they were instead married to Christ. Often, these girls were raped, tortured and crucified by the authorities, and such atrocities extended through the Dark and Middle Ages and beyond, in cultures all over the world.

This stirring new CD sets Gregorian, Ambrosian chant and two episodes from the life of St Agnes, creating a musical memorial to female victims of violence and abuse, raising a plea for freedom, respect and peace to be established in today's world. Poems and texts by Tehlia Lieberman and Marthe Link, read in English, punctuate the chants, and there are moving accounts by women raped in Central Africa and girls forced to enter homes for single mothers and give up their children.

Other information:
- Recording made in 2011
- A moving and powerful programme of the old and new, dealing with an important and shocking issue that is still with us in the 21st century.
- 48-page booklet, containing extensive notes about the project by the artists, and complete texts of the chants, poems and readings in Dutch, English and Latin. The text in the booklet is a plea for female freedom, equal rights, respect and peace, regardless of religion or culture.