Starlight Tea Presents: Chamber Chorus
Saturday, September 13, 2014
7:00 pm
On Saturday, September 13, at 7:00 p.m. the Starlight Tea Concert Series begins its 2014-15 season with Musical Associates. Under the direction of our own Emery DeWitt, this fine group of singers has inspired audiences with delightful programs since 2003. The program is entitled Ave Maria, and it features music dedicated to Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Throughout the history of the Christian church, music and art inspired by the Virgin Mary has played an important part in worship services and in personal devotions. Often, composers would reserve their most beautiful inspirations for these devotional pieces. In more recent years, Protestant churches seem to have reserved this music only for the season of Advent (if at all) and therefore much music of great beauty is rarely heard. With this program, we hope to reawaken your interest in and delight at this music! With settings of the traditional Ave Maria and of other music inspired by or directed to Mary, we explore music ranging from the late 1500s until the present day.
The Latin text Ave Maria begins with the greeting of the archangel Gabriel (“Hail Mary, full of grace…”), given to Mary at the Annunciation, as reported in Luke 1:26-28. It continues with the words of her cousin Elizabeth (“Blessed are you among women…”), also in Luke 1. When Gabriel made his announcement, Mary responded with one of the most amazing hymns of praise in any language. In Latin, it is called Magnificat. Our program contains a wonderful setting of that text, by C. V. Stanford.
The second half of our program features the composer Eric Whitacre, one of the most popular and prolific composers of choral music working today. We have chosen music of Whitacre on texts of the American poet E. E. Cummings. These works range from deep devotion to joyous playfulness.
As with all Starlight Tea concerts, admission is free, with a free-will offering taken. Please be sure to attend this program of wonderful music, and bring your friends!