English organist and conductor Mark Williams will return to Portland this summer to direct the award-winning choir Cantores in Ecclesia in a nineteen-day festival featuring choral masterpieces by the great Renaissance composer William Byrd (1540-1623) and his teacher Thomas Tallis (1505-1585). The opening concert, “Hear the voice and prayer:” English anthems by Tallis, Byrd and the younger generations, at 7:30 pm on Friday, August 8, will include a selection of classic English cathedral anthems from four generations of teachers and students. The final concert, “Born to honour so great a teacher”: sacred songs by Tallis and Byrd, at 7:30 pm on Sunday, August 24, will explore the beautiful collection of sacred music published jointly by Tallis and Byrd in 1575. Both of these concerts will take place in St. Stephen’s Catholic Church, 1112 SE 41st Ave. The complete festival schedule also includes an organ recital, seven liturgical services, and six public lectures. It is attached HERE and available online at www.byrdfestival.org/pdf files/schedule.pdf.

Mark Williams has officially taken up the role of Artistic Director of the William Byrd Festival. As such, he succeeds his former teacher and mentor Richard Marlow of Trinity College, Cambridge, who died last year. Please refer to the festival website for Mr.Williams’ most recent biography.

Tickets for the Aug 8 and 24 concerts are available for purchasenow online at www.brownpapertickets.com, or by calling 1-800-838-3006, or at the door. All other events are free admission with a freewill offering.

GIOVANNI PIERLUIGI DA PALESTRINA
MISSA BREVIS AND STABAT MATER

JACOBUS DE KERLE
MISSA REGINA CAELI

CANTORES IN ECCLESIA
BLAKE APPLEGATE

Cantores in Ecclesia's most recent release (pictured above) brings together settings of the Latin Mass by two Renaissance composers. They were exact contemporaries, and both were famous in their own lifetime, although posterity has treated them quite differently. Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-94) is still a familiar name to modern singers, while Jacobus de Kerle (1531-91) has been all but forgotten. These two men were both dedicated to composing music for the Catholic Church in an era when its musical foundations (and the foundations of its very existence) were in peril. This was a time of sweeping reforms, debated for twenty arduous years during the Council of Trent. The goal was to strip off the excesses and corruptions of past centuries, returning to an atmosphere of simplicity, austerity, and holiness. Needless to say, this had vast implications for what was sung and played in church. Kerle and Palestrina were two composers who found themselves at the center of the fray. (Except taken from the CD booklet music notes, written by Dr. Kerry McCarthy.)

To read David Stabler's December, 2013 review of Cantores' CD, which was featured as a selection for the Oregonian's "Top Gifts for Music Lovers: A&E Gift Guide of 2013," please click HERE.

CDs ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE ONLINE AT:

cdbaby: http://cdbaby.com/cd/cantoresinecclesia

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/palestrina-missa-brevis-stabat/id776424068

Or by calling 503-295-2811. Copies can also be purchased at the receptions directly following the 7:30 P.M. Saturday Vigil Masses at St. Stephen's

RICHARD CUDDIHY A SOLEMN REQUIEM MASS was offered for our dear friend, Richard Cuddihy, on Tuesday, June 10th at 7:30 P.M. at St. Stephen's Church. Cantores in Ecclesia sung Anerio's Requiem and motets by S.S. Wesley and Herbert Howells.