Cathedral Echoes

Wednesdays, July 20 & 27, 8:30 PM

Chorale conducted by Andrew Megill

Processional: A medieval English Christmas

Sarum chant                                               Puer natus est nobis
13^th century                                                  Edi beo thu

15^th century                                                  Als I lay on Yoolis night

15^th century                                                  I saw a swete seemly sight

The City of Sorrow

William Byrd                                                Ne irascaris, Domine
Thomas Tallis                                               Lamentations of Jeremiah I

To the Virgin

Benjamin Britten                                        Hymn to the Virgin

Cecilia McDowall                                        Regina coeli

Mass for All Time

William Byrd                                                Mass for Four Voices

Ralph Vaughan Williams                         Mass in G minor

William Byrd                                                                 Kyrie

Ralph Vaughan Williams                                          Gloria

William Byrd                                                                 Sanctus

William Byrd                                                                 Agnus Dei

Ralph Vaughan Williams                                          Kyrie

The blessed city

Charles Villiers Stanford                        Beati quorum via

William Harris                                            Faire is the Heaven

Recessional

Sarum chant                                                Puer natus est nobis

James MacMillan                                      A Child’s Prayer

The Festival returns to the magnificent Carmel Mission Basilica presenting the exceptional Bach Festival Chorale in a program entitled “Cathedral Echoes.”

“This program is an emotional journey through time. It features music from 500 years of great British sacred choral music,” said Associate Conductor Andrew Megill. “From the energetic and otherworldly medieval carols through the sublime polyphony of Byrd and Tallis in the late 16^th century, to the beautiful 20^th century works inspired by this unique and profound tradition.”

One of the glories of Great Britain is its extraordinary choral tradition. For centuries, many of the world’s greatest choirs have come from England, due in large part to an extraordinary network of Cathedral choirs which required significant music every week.

Highlights include excerpts from Byrd’s Mass for Four Voices, originally sung during clandestine services in private homes, and the 20^thcentury masterpiece inspired by Byrd’s Mass, Vaughan Williams’ Mass in G Minor, as well as Tallis’ profound Lamentations of Jeremiah, and the gorgeous motets by Stanford, Harris, MacMillan, and Britten which are some of the most loved choral works of all time, for singers and listeners and alike.

“The magic of the concert at the Mission is the way it incorporates the aesthetic and the beauty of the building itself,” said Andrew Megill.

Andrew Megill is the artistic director of Fuma Sacra and serves as chorusmaster for the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. He is also music director of Masterwork Chorus and professor and director of choral activities at the University of Illinois. He is in his 13^th season as associate conductor of the Carmel Bach Festival and director of the chorale and chorus.