The Divine Right of Kings

Music from the Chapels Royal of James I and Charles I, by Gibbons, Tomkins, and Weelkes

This year marks the anniversary of the death of Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625) one of the most beloved English composers of the early Stuart Dynasty. Appointed to the Chapel Royal during the early days of James I’s reign he was a student of William Byrd and a prolific composer of both sacred and secular music. We will celebrate his accomplishments alongside those of his esteemed colleagues, Thomas Tomkins (1572 – 1656) and the notorious and eccentric Thomas Weelkes (c. 1576 – 1623). This concert will be part of the Gibbons 400/Scarlatti 300 festival at St. Ignatius of Antioch during the fall of 2025.  

Nocturnes

Tudor Settings of the
Lamentations of Jeremiah

Readings from the Lamentations of Jeremiah held a significant place in the Night Offices of Holy Week in the Roman Catholic Church. In Reformation England, these texts experienced a revival of interest, among the underground Catholic community. Amid the religious upheaval of the Anglican Reformation, when these readings lacked an official liturgical context, settings of Jeremiah's texts were frequently performed in private homes. Notable composers crafted musical interpretations of these texts, including Thomas Tallis (circa 1505-1585), Robert White (1538-1574), and Alfonso Ferrabosco the Elder (1543-1588).

A Path to Transcendence
Music from the Field of Stars

As a follow up to our wildly popular Carmina Burana concert last season, we will once again join forces with Concordian Dawn in an exciting second collaboration featuring medieval polyphony and pilgrim songs. Drawn from sources along the road to Santiago de Compostela, the two ensembles will perform lively monophonic songs from the Cantigas de Santa Maria, alongside elaborate motets from the Las Huelgas Codex, and devotional music for the cult of St. Jamies from the Codex Calixtinus. Our journey down the Camino promises to be a joyful and exuberant finale to our 30th season.