Christmas to Candlemas
Saturday, 1 December 2018, 8:00pm
Our Lady of Victories Basilica
Burke Road, Camberwell
Subscription Concert 3
This program features motets by Flemish and English composers from a variety of past Christmas to Candlemas performances. But it also includes the première of John O’Donnell’s new re-construction of the Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnus Dei of Tallis’ Missa Puer natus est nobis (only the Gloria of which has reached us intact).
Nativity/Christmas
Orlande de Lassus
Quem vidistis, pastores?
In principio erat Verbum
Circumcision
Jacob Handl
Mirabile mysterium
Epiphany
Jacob Handl
Omnes de Saba
Orlande de Lassus
Videntes stellam
Purification/Candlemas
William Byrd
Hodie beata virgo Maria
Senex puerum portabat
Thomas Tallis
Videte miraculum
Nativity/Christmas
Thomas Tallis
Missa Puer natus est nobis
Gloria – Sanctus – Benedictus – Agnus Dei
Soprano
Deborah Summerbell; Carol Veldhoven; Katherine Lieschke; Victoria Brown;
Kate McBride; Katharina Hochheiser; Claerwen Jones; Mandie Lee
Alto
Belinda Wong; Juliana Kay;
Yi Wen Chin; Niki Ebacioni
Tenor
Peter Campbell; Tim van Nooten;
Vaughan McAlley; Stuart Tennant; Michael Stephens;
Bass
Nicholas Tolhurst; Michael Leighton Jones;
Mike Ormerod; Tom Reid
CHRISTMAS TO CANDLEMAS
Ensemble Gombert
Our Lady of Victories, Camberwell at 8 pm
Yet again, John O’Donnell and his excellent choir take patrons on a much-anticipated exceptional tour of Renaissance sacred music that covers the Christmas story from the stable at Bethlehem to Simeon’s prophecies in the Temple. Proceedings open with two Lassus motets: Quem viditis, pastores? for the shepherds’ take on the whole business, and In principio erat Verbum, the first 14 verses of St John’s Gospel which used to conclude the Tridentine Mass ritual and which still give a stunningly visionary theological context for Christ’s birth. Jacob Handl’s Mirabile mysterium also offers an appraisal of the birth’s significance, while his Omnes de Saba makes a jubilant welcome for the Three Kings’ arrival on the scene. Lassus then contributes his Videntes stellam which gives more physical detail concerning the royal visitors and their gifts. O’Donnell & Co. move to the Tudors with a Byrd brace: Hodie beata virgo Maria which comes from the Candlemas Vespers and depicts Mary giving Jesus to Simeon for his blessing; the antiphon Senex puerum portabat deals with a series of paradoxes in lucid polyphony that lasts about two minutes. Videte miraculum by Tallis concentrates heavily on Mary’s virginity with ethereal detachment. The program’s main work is the 7-voice Puer natus est nobis Mass by Tallis which has no Kyrie or Credo and is based on a plainchant, with which the Gomberts will kindly preface their performance. This chant’s text derives from Isaiah and most of it will be familiar to Handel’s Messiah lovers who, at this event, will be transported far beyond the German/British composer’s visions of worldly pomp and circumstance.
Clive O’Connell/O’Connell the Music