PALESTRINA CHOIR
Directed by
Michael Harrison
Missa pro Defunctis Jacobus de Kerle c. 1532 - 1597
Jacobus de Kerle was an important contemporary of Palestrina. This is one of the sixteenth century's most complete settings of the Requiem Mass. The inclusion of the sequence, "Dies irae" (set to alternating verses of polyphony and chant) is unusual for its time. De Kerle also adds polyphony and chant) is unusual for its time. De Kerle also adds the responsory for the absolution, "Libera me, Domine", which follows the closing of the Mass. As in all Renaissance requiems, the nine movements of de Kerle's composition are based upon the corresponding melodies from the plainsong Mass for the Dead.
The Palestrina Choir is a 14-voice a capella choir, formed by Michael Harrison in 1986 to present rarely-heard masterpieces of 16th Century liturgical music. A recent Washington Post review called the Palestrina Choir "one of the finest and most specialized choruses in the choral wonderland of metropolitan Washington," and said the choir focuses its attention on the polyphonic liturgical music of the Renaissance, and it presents this music with a polish, a balanced and blended tone, an oral clarity, and a sense of style that leave nothing to be desired."
Sunday, October 14, 2001 5:00 pm
The Church of the Annunciation 3810 Mass. Ave., N.W. Washington, D.C.
No admission charge, free-will offering
For further information, please call 703-519-1961
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