Annelies
Friday, November 8, 2019
Sunday, November 10, 2019
Vilna Shul, Boston
We are honored to be partnering with the Vilna Shul in Beacon Hill for two performances of Annelies, a full-length work for choir and instrumental ensemble based on the diaries of Anne Frank (1929-1945). This 2005 work brings to life the diary written by Annelies Marie Frank between 1942 and 1944 when she and her family hid in the back of an Amsterdam warehouse. These concerts celebrate the 90th anniversary of Anne Frank's birth and the 75th anniversary of the last entry in her diary.
Annelies (2005) - Libretto by Melanie Challenger, music by James Whitbourn
Holiday Concert
Saturday, December 14, 2019
Old South Church, Boston
Our annual holiday concert in Old South Church will include the world premiere of a new composition by Nell Shaw Cohen, the winner of our 2019 commission competition. Her piece is a three-movement work for winter entitled Blue Shadows, Silver Sunlight, based on poems by Margaret Widdemer, Sara Teasdale and Amy Lowell. The concert will include holiday carols old and new, for both choir and audience (and may even feature an ugly sweater or two!).
O come all ye faithful — Trad. (arr. David Willcocks)
Wintertide — Ola Gjeilo
Blue Shadows, Silver Sunlight — Nell Shaw Cohen
World Premiere – winner of BCE’s 2019 Commission Competition
Season of Light — Jacob Narverud
Lux aurumque — Eric Whitacre
Facta est cum angelo — Raphaella Aleoti
Christmas Day — Gustav Holst
The first nowell — Trad. (arr. James O'Donnell)
Carol of the bells — Mykola Leontovich
Ding-dong merrily on high — Trad. (arr. Charles Wood)
Jingle bells — J. Pierpont (arr. Ralph Allwood)
Hark! The herald angels sing — Trad. (arr. David Willcocks)
Deck the Halls — Trad. (arr. John Rutter)
White Christmas - Irving Berlin (arr. Molly Ijames)
Body | Mind | Soul
Friday, March 20, 2020 — Cancelled due to COVID-19
Old South Church, Boston
We invite you to join us for an interactive program designed to connect with the senses, with others, and with physical spaces. Body, Mind, Soul will include movement and meditation (for those who want to participate), and is full of relaxing music to cleanse the body and soul. Come to our candlelit sanctuary and immerse yourself in an original contemplative experience.
Friede auf Erden — Arnold Schoenberg
Celestial canticles — Stacy Garrop
Winner of BCE's commission competition 2016
I love the Lord — Jonathan Harvey
Lord, let me know mine end — C. H. H. Parry
Lux aeterna — Edward Elgar
The call — John Tavener
Ultimi miei sospiri — Philippe Verdelot
Commission Concert
Friday, May 29, 2020 — Cancelled due to COVID-19
First Church, Cambridge
BCE has been commissioning music for several years and our fourth concert includes the world premiere of You have a Name and a Place by Lansing McLoskey, winner of our commission competition in 2018. The concert will include some other works the Ensemble has commissioned. We will be complementing these contemporary works with the Mass for Four Voices by William Byrd, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful and important examples of Tudor polyphony.
Open your eyes – Ketty Nez
World Premiere
Wondrous glow — Mari Esabel Valverde
Winner of BCE’s 2017 commission competition
You have a Name and a Place – Lansing McLoskey
I. Song
II. Morning
III. a name
World Premiere, Winner of BCE’s 2018 commission competition
Celestial canticles – Stacey Garrop
Winner of BCE’s 2016 commission competition
Blue shadows, silver sunlight – Nell Shaw Cohen
Winner of BCE’s 2019 commission competition
Ave verum corpus – William Byrd
Mass in four parts – William Byrd