Choral Evensong
Sunday, October 4, at 6:30 pm
St. Paul’s Memorial Church
1701 University Avenue, Charlottesville
Evensong was adapted from the ancient vespers liturgy by Thomas Cranmer in the earliest versions of the Book of Common Prayer (1549/1552). In this service Zephyrus sings the beautiful Magnificat and Nunc dimittis on Plainsong Themes by American composer Gerald Near (b. 1942), as well as responses by Richard Ayleward (1626–1669) and the exquisite motet Illumina oculos meos by the Flemish composer Philippe de Monte (1521–1603).
The service is free and open to the public. Parking is available in St. Paul’s lot on Chancellor Street, and the church is wheelchair accessible.
Lo, How a Rose:
Christmas Music by Michael Praetorius
Saturday, December 12, 7:30 pm
St. Paul’s Memorial Church
1701 University Ave, Charlottesville
Sunday, December 13, 3:00 pm
St. Paul’s Memorial Church
1701 University Ave, Charlottesville
One of the great figures of German 17th-century music, Michael Praetorius published 17 volumes of music as well as important works on musical theory and theology. The son of a Lutheran pastor,
Praetorius made over a thousand arrangements of Lutheran chorales, catering to all levels of church music from large professional ensembles to amateur groups and children. This seasonal program samples the full range of Praetorius’s arrangements of well-known carols, from simple duets and elegant dances to expansive works in twenty parts. Zephyrus is joined by the Washington Cornett & Sackbutt Ensemble, and violinists David Sariti and David McCormick for this festive concert.
Sorrow Like My Sorrow:
Spanish Renaissance Music for Lent and Holy Week
Friday, February 26, 7:30 pm
St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish
401 Alderman Road, Charlottesville
Sunday, February 28, 4:00 pm
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
1000 Langhorne Road, Lynchburg
The most renowned and influential Spanish composer of his generation, Francisco de Peñalosa’s
fame was short-lived, both because he lived before printed music became widespread and because some of his music was misattributed to Josquin. In this program we present Peñalosa’s highly expressive three settings of texts from Lamentations together with heart-wrenching motets for Lent and Holy Week by Tomás Luis de Victoria, Pedro de Escobar, Cristóbal de Morales, and Alonso Lobo.
The Deer’s Cry:
Music by Pärt and Palestrina
Saturday, May 1, 7:30 pm
St. Paul’s Memorial Church
1701 University Ave, Charlottesville
Sunday, May 2, 4:00 pm
Grace Episcopal Church
5607 Gordonsville, Road, Keswick
In our spring concert the music of Giovanni Pierlugi da Palestrina and Arvo Pärt is strikingly
juxtaposed: contrasting in style but sharing the same quality of simple yet profound expression.
Palestrina’s famous Missa Papae Marcelli has been credited since the early 17th century for “saving” complex sacred polyphony at a time when the Catholic church hierarchy was dissatisfied that music in the church was too long-winded and the words inaudible. Palestrina’s masterful setting combined traditional polyphony with textual clarity in a compact form that was nevertheless so beautiful that the church decided against banning polyphony, or so the story goes. Pärt in similar fashion reimagined the traditional materials of tonal music to create a uniquely new style of spectacular beauty and deep spiritual meaning. In this program Palestrina’s mass is interspersed with works by Pärt written over a span of four decades.