Our Fourteenth Season: 2011-2012
Performances
Framed by chants of the medieval visionary Hildegard von Bingen, this concert will also feature polyphonic works from Hildegard’s time, such as Perotin’s famous Viderunt omnes and the Ad superni regis from the 12th-century Codex Calixtinus. English medieval carols and works by Renaissance masters will round out the program.
Sunday, November 6 at 7:00 pm
Muldoon Concert Series:
St. Alban’s Episcopal Church
6800 Columbia Pike
Annandale, Virginia 22003
Free parking
Voluntary donation
Info: 703-256-2966 or www.stalbansva.org
Vera Kochanowsky, harpsichord and organ
Shake off the chill of autumn and head south with us to the warm musical climes of Italy and Spain. Enjoy splendid Venetian motets by Monteverdi, intimate secular songs of Spanish composers Guerrero, Flecha and Vasquez, a charming Christmas villancico, and much more.
Sunday, November 13 at 4:00 pm
Odeon Chamber Music Series:
St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church
3241 Brush Drive
Falls Church, Virginia 22042
Free parking
Suggested donation: $15
Info: www.odeonchambermusicseries.org
Carmina & Illuminare
Holiday Lobbying at the Willard
Come celebrate the season with both ensembles in the beautifully decorated lobby of the historic Willard Hotel, where “lobbying” got its name. Hear traditional and lesser-known early works and sing along with us on our encore: Franz Gruber’s original version of Stille Nacht. Seating is limited and will be available only on a first-come, first-served basis. There is ample standing room. Two 45-minute performances.
Wednesday, December 7 at 5:30 pm and 6:45 pm
Willard InterContinental Hotel
1401 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004
Metro: Federal Triangle
Free admission
Info: (703) 532-9356
Carmina & Illuminare
BONUS CONCERT:
Psallite! Joyous Early Music for the Season
Carmina and Illuminare offer jubilant holiday fare in the music room of the historic Kentlands mansion, gorgeously decorated for the holiday. Hear enchanting traditional tunes as well as less familiar gems, ranging from intimate carols and Bach chorales to a vigorous American fuging tune, astonishing organum from the Middle Ages, and magnificent choral counterpoint. Tickets are available by phone in advance or at the door if space remains. Seating is limited, so reserve your places early.
Saturday, December 17 at 8:00 pm
Kentlands Mansion
320 Kent Square Rd
Gaithersburg MD 20878
$25 (city residents: $23)
Info: (301) 258-6425 or Kentlands website
Tickets: (301) 258-6394
Both ensembles will perform for this gala benefit. Don’t miss the ever-popular silent auction, the delicious food, and the glorious music—a combination that is sure to delight. Be sure to join us (and bring a friend or two!) and support the programs of both Carmina and Illuminare.
Sunday, March 18, 2012 at 3:00 pm
McLean, Virginia
Check here for more information early in 2012.
Illuminare & Slaveya
East Meets West
This concert will showcase two vibrant Washington area women’s ensembles. Slaveya, which specializes in the traditional vocal music of Eastern Europe and the Black Sea region, will join Illuminare in a program featuring traditional folksongs, contemporary music inspired by folk traditions, and sacred works from Bulgaria and the Republic of Georgia. Selections by Hildegard von Bingen and other early composers of Western Europe will be woven into the program, offering a uniquely contrasting listening experience.
Sunday, March 25 at 5:00 pm
The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer
6201 Dunrobbin Drive at MacArthur Blvd.
Bethesda, MD 20816
Free parking
Voluntary donation
Info: (301) 229-3770
Slaveya website: www.slaveya.org
Vera Kochanowsky, harpsichord
Betsy Small, lute
Always a bit removed from the musical fashions and trends of the continent, England has produced a number of composers of impressive skill and unique influence. In this program we focus on the formidable talents of Henry Purcell, including his moving Funeral Sentences, and the music of William Byrd and other notable early English composers.
Sunday, April 22 at 4:00 pm
Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church
9601 Cedar Lane
Bethesda, MD 20814
Free admission and parking
Info: (301) 493-8300 x214
Whatever its country of origin, or the name it bears—chanson, lied, canción, or ayre—the polyphonic song flourished magnificently in Europe during the Renaissance. Illuminare will take you on a tour of this genre and beguile you with works by master composers Morley, Weelkes, DuFay, Guerrero, Gabrieli, and others.
Sunday, May 6 at 7:00 pm
Fairfax United Methodist Church
10300 Stratford Avenue
Fairfax, VA 22030
Voluntary donation
Info: (703) 591-3120 or www.fairfaxumc.org
Carmina & Illuminare
Passions and Plaints
Both ensembles join together for the season’s finale, presented as part of the Washington Early Music Festival, whose theme will be Vices & Virtues: Passionate Music of Early Europe. Works by Gesualdo, Lechner, Schütz, Guerrero, Hildegard, and others.
Friday, June 15at 8:00 pm
St. Peter’s on Capitol Hill Catholic Church
313 2nd Street SE
Washington, DC 20003
WEMF website: www.earlymusicdc.org
Watch here for more information.
