Schola Cantorum
of Syracuse
Schola has a YouTube channel:
Music for Six
June 26, 2021
Program
Orlando di Lasso (1532-1594), Musica, Dei donum optimi
Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643), Cantate Domino
Orlando di Lasso, Ave Maria
Adrian Willaert (1490-1562), Infelix ego
Jacques Arcadelt (1507-1568), Agnus Dei
Orlando di Lasso, Chi chilichi?
Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672), Selig sind die Toten
Heinrich Schütz, Das ist je gewisslich war
Thomas Tomkins (1572-1656), Music Divine
John Wilbye (1574-1638), Draw on, sweet night
William Byrd (1543-1623), Venite exultemus Domino
The Schola Six
Rachel Bass, soprano
Liamna Pestana Roche, soprano
Barry Torres, countertenor
Arthur Lewis, tenor
Jeffrey Snedeker, baritone
Thomas Sauvé, bass
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About the Music for 6 program, music director Barry Torres writes:
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“The sextet texture provides the perfect balance of clarity and richness, of simplicity and complexity. When all parts sound in unison the result is sensuously sonorous. But the several pleasing combinations within the six voices inspires composers who are up to the task with a rich palette of colors, contrapuntal possibilities and dramatic contrast – three duos of high, middle and low voices; various pairings of low and high; duos against a quartet, solos contrasted with 2-5 voices; and various combinations of trios for antiphonal effects.
“The Schola 6 will present a cornucopia of vocal music in six parts by some of the greatest composers in 16th-Century Europe – Orlando di Lasso, William Byrd, Adrian Willeart, Claudio Monteverdi, Heinrich Schütz.
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“The mood will range from the downright farcical (Lasso’s sexual romp Chi chi li chi) to the philosophically sublime (Willaert’s setting of the famous Savonarolan text Infelix ego) and everything in between.
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“William Byrd is represented by his exuberant song of praise Venite exultemus Domino which is paired with Monteverdi’s classic setting of Cantate Domino.
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“Two songs in praise of music, Music Divine by Byrd’s younger countryman Thomas Tomkins and Orlando di Lasso’s evocative Musica, Dei donum optimi (Music, gift of God most high) will be sung, as well as Lasso’s mysteriously reverent setting of Ave Maria, gratia plena.
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“Adding to the frivolity of Chi chi li chi will be Ludwig Senfl’s bell-ringing song Das Geläut zu Speyer.
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“Jacob Arcadelt’s ethereal Agnus Dei from Missa Ave Regina Caelorum and two motets from Heinrich Schütz, Das ist je gewisslich wahr (This is a faithful saying) and Selig sind die Toten (Blessed are the dead) round out the program.”
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