Lenten Devotions

The solemnity of Lent and the contemplation of human mortality have often inspired music imbued with deep emotion and exquisite beauty. Prime examples by contemporaries at the close of the Renaissance—the director of a Portuguese seminary and a guilt-ridden Italian prince—are Lôbo’s Requiem and the Tenebrae of Gesualdo. Both display elaborate counterpoint but in utterly different harmonic language. A superb earlier, although denser, contrapuntal technique is illustrated in three highly personal and intense motets by Cristóbal de Morales, the first internationally renowned Spanish composer. In contrast, we sing a set of beautifully lyric motets by the Romantic composer Josef Rheinberger from tiny Liechtenstein. Then moving rapidly forward to modern times, we present works by two living composers: England’s John Tavener and the Bay Area’s own Frank Ferko.

We hope you can join us for this extraordinary a cappella concert!

Join us for a preview lecture a half hour before each concert.

$25 general, $20 senior, $6 student
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Read the program notes by artistic director Sanford Dole.

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