Monday, April 13, 2015

Viva Italia


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Did you know that many of Europe’s most famous Renaissance and Baroque composers lived and worked in Rome during the 1600s?

This concert is centered around the German College in Rome that was especially active at the end of the 16th century and throughout the 17th century. The Collegio Germanico, as it was called, was the Vatican’s training center for German-speaking Catholic priests. One priest ordained there was Tomás Luis de Victoria, who is still today one of the most well-known Spanish Renaissance composers. He became choirmaster after his ordination and the music program rapidly grew to be one of the most prominent church music centers in Europe.

The music on our concert represents the beauty and majesty that was being cultivated in worship at that time. We will sing all 4 of the major Marian antiphons, a setting of "Dixit Dominus" (one of the major Vesper Psalms) as well as a grand Mass setting by the lesser-known composer, Giovanni Felice Sances, who wrote his Missa Sancta Maria Magdalenae for the Feast of Mary Magdalene in July. (*Note: our performance of this Mass will be only the second performance in North America, and likely only the third performance anywhere since the 17th century.)

This concert represents much of what one would have heard in worship services, at Mass or Vespers, in Rome throughout the 17th century. We hope you will help us spread the word!

Tomás Luis de Victoria – Ave regina caelorum, Regina Caeli, Salve Regina
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina – Alma redemptoris mater
Marc-Antoine Charpentier – Dixit Dominus
Giacomo Carissimi – O Dulcissima Mariae Domine
Giovanni Felice Sances – Ave maris stella, Vulnerasti cor meum, Missa Sancta Mariae Magdalenae (only the 2nd performance in North America)