Robert FAYRFAX's Christmas Mass: "Tecum Principium" sung a cappella by the 20 SATBB voices of RenChorNY will be led by Claude Lévy.
Fayrfax (1464-1521), last led this for Tudor King Henry VIII, December 25, 1520.
It miraculously escaped the 'Reformation' plunderings during the years 1534-1541 of the monastic establishments via four beautiful manuscripts. This festal work, which was first presented by us under Harold Brown (1909-1979) at General Theological Seminary 5/6/75, is rarely heard, and demands florid and lyrical expressiveness. It is newly edited for us by John Hetland (www.StreetSingers.org).
This concert’s “together-sounds” (sym-phony) will be of voices. We present, less the liturgy, the four polyphonic mass ordinaries: Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei, all of which contain the seeds of the Sarum Chant parodied, with contrapuntal contrast and canonic wizardry. (In the Medieval era the Kyrie was not set polyphonically). There are eight combinations/textures of solo and tutti sections sung.
The singers: Sopranos: Andrea Reiter, Iris Young, Kate Ellis, Lee Ann Beauchamp, Sally Barton Elliott Altos: Ann Berkhausen, Dorrie Rosen, Fran Morton, Holly Weiss, Maribeth Dunajski Tenors: Bruce Rickenbacker, Ross French, William Van Steveninck Bass 1: Evan Sarzin, Ezra Halleck, Sig Rosen, Tom Frenkel Bass 2: Andrew Gavdanovich, Joel Perez, Jonathan Miller, Paul Geidel
Musical Director: Claude Lévy Production coordinator: Sig Rosen Claude Lévy is the founder of CantaNYC, and John Hetland of The Renaissance Street Singers
Note: Maestro Lévy will be leading his CantaNYC choir in “Human Rights”, a jazz-inspired choral and instrumental piece, in the 12/8/19 Amnesty International Group 11 benefit at Christ and St-Stephen’s Church.
