Saturday, March 9, 2013, in the Chapel at Bastyr University, Kenmore, at 2:00 pm.

Concert includes:

Stabat Mater dolorosa, a 13th-century Gregorian chant
Stabat Mater à 8 for Two Choirs, by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-15940
Stabat Mater for Ten-Part Choir, by Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757)
Crucifixus for Sixteen-Part Choir, by Antonio Caldara (1670-1736)
Ave Maria (from “Quattro Pezzi Sacri,” by Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
Messa di Requiem, by Ildebrando Pizzetti (1880-1968)

For centuries, the Lenten season has seen many of the greatest masterworks in Western musical history. Few people today would think of Lent as a season for liturgical music, because Christmas has almost cornered the market. This is regrettable, because when you look back at musical history, Lent has been an enormous source of inspiration for composers. While many of the public’s acknowledged favorites among sacred works are from the Christmas repertory, Lenten music has its own particular beauty.

In Italy, the Lenten season before Easter is known as Quaresima, or “forty days.” “Quaresima Italiana: An Italian Lent” will focus on 700 years of Italian sacred choral works on one program, beginning with a 13th-century Gregorian chant and concluding with a requiem mass from the early 20th century.

The Seattle Choral Company’s “Italian Lent” will take the audience on a journey through Italian musical history, beginning with three settings of the Stabat Mater text separated by five centuries. The program starts with the original plainchant melody from the 13th century, followed by the works of Renaissance master Palestrina and the Baroque innovator Domenico Scarlatti. These settings provide different perspectives on the archetypical “Mother of Sorrows” the Virgin Mary weeping at the foot of the cross. The original hymn is variously attributed to the Franciscan friar Jacopone da Todi and to Pope Innocent III.

There is one other performance of this concert, on Saturday, March 16, 2013 at 8:00 pm at Saint Mark’s Cathedral in Seattle.

Note: Online sales will close at 10 AM the day of the concert; we will post a message at that time concerning ticket availability at the door.

ADVANCE PURCHASE prices (seating is non-reserved):
$25 General, $20 Senior 65+, and $10 Youth (up to 25)
All tickets $2 additional at the door. Special Group Rates are available for advance sales to groups of 8 or more. Call 206-363-1100 for more information.

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/269221