Friday, March 7th, 2008
8:00 pm at First Church Cambridge

Sunday, March 9th, 2008
2:00 pm at the Church of St. John the Evangelist

Come experience the moving beauty of Orlande de Lassus’s final and greatest work: Lagrime di San Pietro, or Tears of St. Peter (1594). De Lassus is considered one of the most versatile composers of the Renaissance. His staggering output includes 4 passion settings, over 60 masses, more than 100 magnificats, and countless secular madrigals.

Lagrime, an exquisite masterwork, is a prime example of the less common genre of madrigale spirituale, or spiritual madrigal. The work—a set of Italian poems centering on St. Peter after his denial of Christ—is a culmination of de Lassus’s compositional language and is considered “one of the most remarkable artistic testaments in the history of music” (James Haar).

Orlando di LASSO	:	Lagrime di San Pietro (1594) Il magnanimo Pietro Ma gli archi Tre volte haveva à l'importunae audace Qual' à l’incontro di quegli occhi santi Giovane donna il suo bel volto in specchio Cosi tal’hor Ogniocchio del Signor lingua veloce Nessun fedel trovai, nessun cortese Chi ad una ad una raccontar potesse Come falda di neve E non fu il pianto suo rivo ó Tporrente Quel volto Veduto il miser quanto differente E vago d’incontrar chi guista pena Vattene vita và O vita troppo rea À quanti già felici in giovinezza Non tropvava mia fe sì duro intoppo Queste opre e piu Negando il mio Signor Vide homo
[download the program, .pdf, 1.1 Mb]

Friday, May 30th, 2008
8:00 pm at First Church Cambridge

Sunday, June 1st, 2008
2:00 pm at the Church of St. John the Evangelist

At the height of spring, BCE is proud to present a program that features the widest musical range of repertoire. This program highlights Randall Thompson’s Peaceable Kingdom (1936), a beloved tour de force for unaccompanied choir that explores the powerful dynamic between the dramatic and the serene. Featured in between movements are various smaller works that explore the emotional complexity of loss during times of war and conflict. Join us for this bold musical conversation, underscored by a powerful yearning for peace.

Included in the performance will be the premiere performance of Look Down, Fair Moon, a new work written for the Boston Choral Ensemble by composer Zachary Wadsworth. Last fall, Wadsworth was announced winner of our first annual Commission Competition and wrote this work in response. His vivid setting of two Whitman poems is an ideal companion to Thompson’s work from some 70 years earlier. Don’t miss this rare event!

Randall THOMPSON (1899–1984)	:	The Peaceable Kingdom (1936) I. Say ye to the righteous
Josquin des PREZ (1450–55—1521)	:	Absalon fili mi (c 1500)
Randall THOMPSON	:	The Peaceable Kingdom II. Woe unto them
Thomas TOMKINS (1572–1656)	:	When David Heard that Absalom was Slain (1622)
Randall THOMPSON	:	The Peaceable Kingdom III. The noise of a multitude IV. Howl ye
Salamone ROSSI (1570–1630)	:	Kaddish (1622–23)
Randall THOMPSON	:	The Peaceable Kingdom V. The paper reeds by the brooks
Zachary WADSWORTH (1983—)	:	Look down, fair moon (2008) Winner of the Boston Choral Ensemble’s 1st Annual Commission Competition
Randall THOMPSON	:	The Peaceable Kingdom VI. But these are they that forsake the Lord For ye shall go out with joy
Edward ELGAR (1857–1934)	:	Peace, Gentle Peace (1902) from Coronation Ode, Op. 44
Randall THOMPSON	:	The Peaceable Kingdom VII. Have ye not known? VIII. Ye shall have a song
[download the program, .pdf, .9 Mb]