About the artist BILL HEIGEN is an accomplished composer, arranger, musical director, singer, vocal coach and pianist. He is a recipient of numerous national awards in Brazil for his vocal arrangements and choral directing. He has composed many theatre shows, and has performed in several renowned professional vocal ensembles such as Polyhymnia, Sing We Enchanted, Underworld Productions Opera, Chameleonic and Schola Cantorum of St. Agnes Church in New York City - singing many musical styles from bossa nova and Brazilian popular music, to Renaissance repertoire. Bill has been active as a musical director for various vocal groups in the U.S. and Brazil. As an experienced voice teacher and vocal coach, he has taught music theory courses at various conservatories and universities in Brazil. Bill Heigen holds degrees in Vocal Performance from University of Rio de Janeiro, and is currently in the process of completing his Master's degree in Composition at Hunter College in New York City. About the track Ave verum corpus is a short Eucharistic hymn that has been set to music by various composers. It dates from the 14th century and has been attributed to Pope Innocent VI. During the Middle Ages it was sung at the elevation of the host during the consecration. It was also used frequently during Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The hymn's title means "Hail, true body", and is based on a poem deriving from a 14th-century manuscript from the Abbey of Reichenau, Lake Constance. The poem is a meditation on the Catholic belief in Jesus's Real Presence in the sacrament of the Eucharist, and ties it to the Catholic conception of the redemptive meaning of suffering in the life of all believers. Text The text is in Latin, and reads: Ave verum corpus, natum de Maria Virgine, vere passum, immolatum in cruce pro homine, cuius latus perforatum fluxit aqua et sanguine: esto nobis praegustatum in mortis examine. O Iesu dulcis, O Iesu pie, O Iesu, fili Mariae. Miserere mei. Amen. A translation into English is: Hail, true Body, born of the Virgin Mary, who having truly suffered, was sacrificed on the cross for mankind, whose pierced side flowed with water and blood: May it be for us a foretaste [of the Heavenly banquet] in the trial of death. O sweet Jesus, O pious Jesus, O Jesus, son of Mary, have mercy on me. Amen. Recorded, Mixed, and Produced by Erik-Peter Mortensen, Owner Papagena Productions, Cathedral Records, New York City Released and Copyrighted June 30, 2013 Follow Bill! www.billheigen.com Follow Erik-Peter! www.soundcloud.com/erik-peter www.facebook.com/NYTroubador