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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