Valentina V. is an extended work for solo harp, immersive electroacoustic sound, and lighting, commissioned by Hope Cowan through a generous grant from the American Harp Society. The piece is inspired by my own musicological research into the medieval song “La harpe de melodie” and the provenance of the illuminated manuscript containing the song’s renowned pictographic musical score.

Valentina V. is conceived as a tragic monodrama in which the solo harpist adopts the persona of 14th-century noblewoman and virtuoso harpist Valentina Visconti (1371–1408). Research suggests that the medieval song “La harpe de melodie” by Jacob de Senleches — famous for its illuminated pictographic score — was likely composed as a vehicle to showcase Valentina’s prodigious musical talents. Married to the brother of the King of France, Valentina was eventually forced into exile after others at the royal court accused her of witchcraft. My piece presents an imagined scene near the end of Valentina’s life in which she is confined to her chamber with only her precious harp to confide in.

Cast in four movements played without pause, Valentina V. unfolds fantasia-like as its protagonist processes her grief through playing her beloved harp. Compositional materials are partly derived from “La harpe de melodie,” which is performed in full as the work’s penultimate movement. At other points in the piece, the song emerges in a fragmented, distorted, or embellished form, representing Valentina’s reminiscences as they are filtered through her fractured psyche.