Cantores in Ecclesia Presents:

A WINTER FESTIVAL OF ORGAN & CHORAL MUSIC
With MARK WILLIAMS, Jesus College, Cambridge

EVENTS:

Saturday, January 31, 7:30 PM, St. Stephen's Catholic Church
Solemn Latin Mass for the Vigil of the Fourth Sunday of the Year
Lennox Berkeley Missa Brevis, Herbert Howells Like as the hart & Gregorian Chant proper. Sung by Cantores in Ecclesia, Blake Applegate, Director, Mark Williams, Organist
St. Stephen’s Catholic Church, S.E 41st Avenue & Salmon Street

Sunday, February 1, 11:00 AM, Holy Rosary Church
Missa Cantata for the Anniversary of the Dedication of the Church
Zoltán Kodály Missa Brevis, Anton Bruckner Locus Iste, Edvard Grieg Ave Maris Stella & Gregorian Chant proper
Sung by Cantores in Ecclesia, Blake Applegate, Director, Mark Williams, Organist
Holy Rosary Catholic Church, N.E. 3rd Avenue & Clackamas Street

Sunday, February 1, 4:30 PM, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
Organ Recital played by Mark Williams

Sunday, February 1, 5:00 PM, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
Choral Evensong, featuring Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis in G by Charles Villiers Stanford
Cathedral Chamber Singers conducted by Blake Applegate, Mark Williams, Organist
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, N.W. 19th & Everett Street

Monday, February 2, 7:00 PM, Holy Rosary Catholic Church
Organ recital played by Mark Williams

Monday, February 2, 7:30 PM, Holy Rosary Catholic Church
Solemn High Mass for Candlemas Day
Maurice Duruflé Missa ‘Cum Jubilo’ & Gregorian Chant Proper
Sung by Cantores in Ecclesia, Blake Applegate, Director, Mark Williams, Organist
Holy Rosary Catholic Church, N.E. 3rd Avenue & Clackamas Street

For more information, please contact: Cantores in Ecclesia, Dean Applegate 971-227-8740

MARK WILLIAMS has been Director of Music, College Lecturer and Fellow at Jesus College Cambridge since 2009. Following a year as Organ Scholar of Truro Cathedral in Cornwall, he went on to take up the Organ Scholarship at Trinity College Cambridge where he was also awarded an academic scholarship. At the age of 21, he was appointed Assistant Organist of St Paul’s Cathedral in London and Director of Music at St Paul’s Cathedral School. He relinquished both posts in April of 2006 in order to pursue his growing freelance career.

Described as ‘the shooting star of the international organ scene’ by the Berliner Zeitung and ‘a brilliant, fiery talent’ by The Oregonian newspaper, he has appeared as organist and harpsichordist nationally and internationally with many of the UK’s leading ensembles, including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the City of London Sinfonia and the Gabrieli Consort and Players. As a conductor he has worked with the Britten Sinfonia, London Mozart Players, Saraband Consort and City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. He is the Artistic Director of the International William Byrd Festival in Portland Oregon, the Honorary President of the Chamber Choir of Erne Integrated College in Enniskillen, Ireland and the Chief Guest Conductor of the City of London Choir.

Mark Williams has given solo recitals and led masterclasses in choral training, singing and organ performance in the UK, the USA, Asia and Africa and in March 2013, led the Choir of Jesus College Cambridge in a pioneering collaboration with the charity Songbound working with children in the slums of Mumbai, in December 2014 continuing this international outreach work with a choir tour to Sri Lanka. A Fellow of the Royal College of Organists, he is a Freeman of the City of London, and a trustee of the the Oundle Music Trust, the Harlton Organ Trust, Cambridge Early Music, Songbound and the Muze Music Trust in Zambia.

Mark Williams has performed on a number of film soundtracks and television adverts, and appears on CD with the Choir of Jesus College Cambridge, the Choir of Trinity College Cambridge, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Cambridge Singers, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, The King's Consort, The Sixteen, Arcangelo and Retrospect Ensemble. He is the Music Consultant for the British television crime drama ‘Endeavour’.

senior lecturer at King's College, London, died of a massive cerebral hemorrhage during the early morning hours of October 28, 2014. An academic who inspired many students to successful careers in the music profession, he also played a central role in church music as the Director of Music at St. Mary's, Bourne Street. Familiar to many in the greater Portland area for his valuable twelve-year contribution to the William Byrd Festival, David will be missed both professionally and personally; we have lost not only a consummate scholar and musician, but a delightful and dear friend.

The Guardian, in noting his passing, observed that David “combined musicology with the highest standards of choir training, organ playing, record producing and teaching.” After a brief biography and list of his impressible achievements, the Telegraph added that “throughout his career Trendell had a far reaching influence on students and church musicians alike. He was a bright and engaging colleague, an immensely generous teacher, an exuberant raconteur, a true bon vivant and a selfless companion . . .” We count ourselves most fortunate to have been among those blessed by his influence.

CANTORES' MOST RECENT CD RELEASE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE ONLINE:

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.