Vortex Cantabilis is a contemporary rendition of a medieval song composed by Alfonso X around 1250 A.D. The song (named “Des hoge mais quér’ éu trobar”) is part of a collection of 420 poems, called Canticles of St. Mary.

This orchestral piece consists of a vortex, in which the same melody (Alfonso X’s chant) circulates the entire spectrum of the orchestra, in slightly different layers. By the end of the piece, all the layers are added and played at the same time, resulting in unexpected chords and harmonies.