Saints & Temptations
Saturday 28 August 2010
Emmanuel College Chapel, University of Queensland
Choral works throughout the ages for saints and sinners
Our programme today visits the lives of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with all of its wonderment and joy; Rachel, one of the three Biblical Patriarchs; Saint Peter, also referred to as Simon Peter, who was one of the Twelve Apostles and assigned a leadership role by Jesus; Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of musicians and church music; and Saint Stephen, the protomartyr (the first martyr) of Christianity.
Each of these works uses a language that musically represents events in the life of these saints. From the humbling double choir setting of Victoria to the descending chromatic lines of Rachel weeping for her children by de Wert, Charpentier then takes us to the conversation between Peter and Jesus as Peter remembered the words of Jesus, and the reality of his actions became clear. In contrast, we hear the clean fresh palette of sound in Benjamin Britten’s Saint Cecilia, “appearing in visions to all musicians, appear and inspire,” and finally move to Jack Body’s portrayal of the stoning of Saint Stephen. Each composer captures his audience with stunning musical colours, immediately drawing the listener into their, and our, world.
Emmanuel College Chapel, University of Queensland
Choral works throughout the ages for saints and sinners
Our programme today visits the lives of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with all of its wonderment and joy; Rachel, one of the three Biblical Patriarchs; Saint Peter, also referred to as Simon Peter, who was one of the Twelve Apostles and assigned a leadership role by Jesus; Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of musicians and church music; and Saint Stephen, the protomartyr (the first martyr) of Christianity.
Each of these works uses a language that musically represents events in the life of these saints. From the humbling double choir setting of Victoria to the descending chromatic lines of Rachel weeping for her children by de Wert, Charpentier then takes us to the conversation between Peter and Jesus as Peter remembered the words of Jesus, and the reality of his actions became clear. In contrast, we hear the clean fresh palette of sound in Benjamin Britten’s Saint Cecilia, “appearing in visions to all musicians, appear and inspire,” and finally move to Jack Body’s portrayal of the stoning of Saint Stephen. Each composer captures his audience with stunning musical colours, immediately drawing the listener into their, and our, world.
- Ave Maria – Tomás Luis de Victoria
- Vox in Rama – Giaches de Wert
- Le Reniement de St Pierre – Marc-Antoine Charpentier
- Ave Maris Stella – Trond Kverno
- Hymn to Saint Cecilia – Benjamin Britten
- Carol to St Stephen – Jack Body
Singers
Soprano: Katherine Chan, Bronwyn Mitchell, Sarvenaz Monfaredi, Bonnie Pearce, Rebecca Thomas
Alto: Jody Bell, Celia Fitz-Walter, Cathy Green, Sara Grims, Nicki Jenkins, Alisen McLeod
Tenor: Chris Bradley, Shannon Leonard, Tim Smetham
Bass: Paul Bonetti, Michael Bradshaw, Tim Grantham, Robin Maurer, Jim McNicol, Brendan Murtagh, Gino Sanidad
Instumentalists
Eduarda Van Klinken, organ
View programme
Soprano: Katherine Chan, Bronwyn Mitchell, Sarvenaz Monfaredi, Bonnie Pearce, Rebecca Thomas
Alto: Jody Bell, Celia Fitz-Walter, Cathy Green, Sara Grims, Nicki Jenkins, Alisen McLeod
Tenor: Chris Bradley, Shannon Leonard, Tim Smetham
Bass: Paul Bonetti, Michael Bradshaw, Tim Grantham, Robin Maurer, Jim McNicol, Brendan Murtagh, Gino Sanidad
Instumentalists
Eduarda Van Klinken, organ
View programme
