Author: Niki

Saturday 26 October at 8pm
The Dome, 333 Collins Street, Melbourne

In this special performance, John O’Donnell and Ensemble Gombert are joined by 20 guest singers to present Thomas Tallis’ famous 40-part motet Spem in alium “in the round” at The Dome at 333 Collins Street. The Dome was originally constructed in 1891 for the chambers of the Commercial Bank of Australia, and is a beautiful example of Victorian architecture in the Italian baroque style.

In addition, Ensemble Gombert proper will sing Missa Dum sacrum mysterium by the young Scotsman Robert Carver. This large-scale 10-part mass was probably first performed 500 years ago at the coronation of the Scottish King James V on the 21st of September 1513.

Finally Ensemble Gombert and guests will perform the world premiere of EG chorister Vaughan McAlley’s ambitious 40-part motet Omnes angeli. Composed over two and a half years, Omnes angeli evokes St John’s vision of angels singing in heaven from the Book of Revelation. Omnes angeli is, like Spem in alium, fully polyphonic, with every singer having a fully independent part throughout.

PROGRAM

Robert Carver Missa Dum Sacrum Mysterium a10
Thomas Tallis Spem in alium a40
Vaughan McAlley Omnes angeli a40

Singers in Carver’s Missa Dum sacrum mysterium are printed in italics.

Concert 4: Saturday 7 September at 5.30 pm
Xavier College Chapel, Barkers Rd, Kew

Subscription Concert 4

In memoriam Carlo Gesualdo

Ave, Regina coelorum
Venit lumen tuum Jerusalem
Ave, dulcissima Maria
Reminiscere miserationum tuarum
Dignare me, laudare te
Sancti Spiritus Domine
Domine ne despicias
Hei mihi Domine
Laboravi in gemitu meo
Peccantem me quotidie
O vos omnes
Exaudi Deus deprecationem meam
Precibus et meritis beatae Mariae
O Crux benedicta
Tribularer si nescirem
Deus refugium et virtus
Tribulationem et dolorem
Illumina faciem tuam
Maria mater gratiae
Da pacem Domine
Assumpta est Maria

We have twice performed the complete Responsoria of Gesualdo, but never before have we dipped into his Sacrae Cantiones I, published in 1603. The work was published in two sections, the first containing motets for five voices, the second motets for six and seven voices. But, while all five part-books of the first section have come down to us, the second section is lacking two of its part-books (though the missing bass part-book is apparently in private ownership in Italy). Our program features all of the five-voice motets as well as two of the six-voice pieces; these last two items editorially completed.

SINGERS

Concert 3: Saturday 11 May at 5.30 pm
Xavier College Chapel, Barkers Rd, Kew

Subscription Concert 3

Choral music constitutes a major part of Britten’s output, having occupied the composer throughout his creative life. Indeed it was a major choral work written at the age of 19 whose BBC broadcast made Britten a household name overnight. This program presents a mixture of sacred and secular works, all settings of English poetry (with a little macaronic verse), from anonymous Medieval writers through Robert Herrick, George Crabbe and John Clare to Gerard Manley Hopkins, W.H. Auden and William Plomer.

PROGRAM

Choral Dances from Gloriana
Hymn to St. Cecilia
A Hymn to the Virgin
Five Flower Songs
Sacred and Profane
A M D G

SINGERS

Concert 2: Saturday 23 March at 8.00 pm
Xavier College Chapel, Barkers Rd, Kew

Subscription Concert 2

With guest soloists Daniel Thomson (Evangelist) and Jerzy Kozlowski (Jesus)

The Eton Choirbook is the major repository of English choral music from around 1500. The greater part of its repertoire is Marian, that is, works addressed to the Blessed Virgin Mary, such as Wylkynson’s resplendent nine-voice Salve regina featured in past programs. Passion music is by its nature less dazzling, though the writing remains rich and complex. All three Stabat mater settings take full advantage of the dramatic possibilities of the text. And Davy’s Passio is among the earliest polyphonic settings of St Matthew’s account of the Passion.

PROGRAM
John Browne Stabat mater
Richard Davy Stabat mater
Richard Davy Passio Domini in ramis palmarum

Note: William Cornish ‘Stabat mater’ advertised in subscription brochure but not performed.

SINGERS