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Ave Maris Stella Presents Trio of Concerts: |
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| December 2007 |
“Musike for the Nywe Yeare” |
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The midcoast early-music vocal ensemble Ave Maris Stella has announced dates and venues for their popular annual concerts to welcome in the New Year. The 18-member a cappella group will perform twice in the midcoast: Sunday, January 20, at First Church in Belfast, 8 Court Street, at 3:00 p.m.; and on Friday, January 25, in the Camden Public Library’s elegant Reading Room (55 Main Street) at 7:00 p.m. Admission to both concerts is by suggested donation of $10 per adult. On Saturday, January 26, the group will sing at Blue Hill Congregational Church at 4:00 p.m. January 27 is the snow date for the Blue Hill cocert. Dedicated to bringing fine early vocal music to its audiences, the group’s winter concerts will take listeners on a journey through the ages. The singers will begin with an engaging set of medieval music, including “Pucelete-Je Languis-Domino,” and a rousing rendition of the raucous “Alle psallite Alleluya.” They will be followed by Anonymous 4 arrangements of the hypnotic and serene “Portum In Ultimo” and “Vox Nostra Resonet” performed by the group’s women. The men will then sing Machaut’s “Ma Fin Est Mon Commencement,” a daring work for its time and still a challenge today. Next up will be a bit of time in the Renaissance. Featured will be the Sanctus and Benedictus movements from Josquin’s venerated “Missa Pange Lingua.” This will be followed by di Lasso’s chant-inspired “Magnificat Octavi Toni.” An excursion to the country of Georgia, home of one of the oldest known traditions of polyphony, ensues. The tender traditional Georgian lullaby “Megruli Nana” will be sung by the women, followed by the men singing “Romelni Kerubimta.” To round out the group’s performances and send audiences home smiling, the concert finale will be a rousing set of madrigals by Gibbons, Farmer, Tomkins, and Weelkes. Chosen to delight and entertain, they include the poignant Silver Swan, the slyly sexy Fair Phyllis I Saw, and the elegant Music Divine. Ave Maris Stella performs in wide a variety of languages and styles from English to Latin to Quechua, and from sacred to secular to downright silly. Most works are sung by the whole group, but small ensembles (duets, trios and the like) are also a specialty. The group strives to bring unusual works to Maine audiences, yet more familiar music by such renowned composers as Byrd, Dufay, Monteverdi, Palestrina, and Josquin is also a large part of the repertoire. Ave Maris Stella strives to educate audiences about early music by providing extensive program notes about the music performed. In addition to the expected liturgical works, Ave Maris Stella sings Sephardic songs, madrigals, and selections from such far-flung locales as Corsica and the country of Georgia. While the focus is early music, the ensemble has recently delved into appropriate settings by contemporary composers such as Arvo Part, Francis Poulenc, John Tavener, Maurice Durufle, and the Hungarian Lajos Bardos. AMS is unusual in that it is collectively run. Membership is by audition, and singers share the responsibility of bringing music selections to the group. They also take turns teaching and leading. Founded early in the twenty-first century, Ave Maris Stella (“Hail, Star of the Sea”) has performed as part of the St. Margaret's Church music series in Belfast and at various venues around Maine including Merrill Auditorium in Portland, the Henry Knox Mansion, the Camden Opera House, St. Denis Catholic Church in Whitefield, First Church in Belfast, Elan Fine Arts Gallery in Rockport, John Street United Methodist Church, and as part of the Rockland Public Library’s music series. The auditioned group
generally performs two scheduled concert sets per year, in January and June,
and is available by invitation at other times. |