Following Easter, The Ascension of Jesus is the next major Christian feast, celebrated 40 days after Easter Day. While not so prominent as other holy days, this feast has inspired a wealth of music from great composers over the centuries. Allegri Ensemble, conducted by Andrew Bainbridge, is proud to present a selection of this glorious choral music in our first concert for 2016, God Is Gone Up.
The program features Spanish master Tomas Luis de Victoria’s parody Mass, “Missa Ascendens Christus in altum”.Interspersed between movements of the mass are motets and anthems, including the motet upon which the Mass is based, “Ascendens Christus in altum”. Other works include Orlando Gibbons’ mighty “O clap your hands”, an extended two-part anthem for double choir based on text from Psalm 47. Also for double choir are Stanford’s “Coelos ascendit hodie” and Mendelssohn’s motet “Am Himmelfahrtstage” (On Ascension Day). Christopher Tye’s “Omnes gentes, plaudite manibus”, Peter Philips’ “Ascendit Deus”, Henry Purcell’s “O God, the King of Glory”, William Byrd’s “I will not leave you comfortless”, and Dulos Couillart’s “Viri Galilaei” are the other a cappella works.
The program concludes with two works with organ accompaniment (played by Ben Mackey): “Viri Galiaei” by Patrick Gowers (1936 – 2014) for double choir, soloists and two organists, in what is almost certainly a first performance in Tasmania; and Gerald Finzi’s magnificent anthem “God is gone up”, set to an inspired text by American poet Edward Taylor (1646-1729), which remained unpublished after his death for over 200 years.
The concert is on Sunday 1st May 2016 at 2:30 pm at Hobart Town Hall, 50 Macquarie St, Hobart.
Tickets are $35 adult/$26 concession from CENTERTAINMENT or cash sales at the door from 2:00 pm.
More information is at http://www.centertainment.com.au/events/godisgoneup
Caroline www.allegriensemble.com
