Our Spring 2014 concert was a “Renaissance and Baroque Birthday Bash” featuring sacred and secular music by composers born in 1464, 1514, 1564, and 1714. The major work was the rarely performed Magnificat by Robert Fayrfax (1464 – 1521), a complex polyphonic motet interleaved with Gregorian chant. In addition to the sacred music, the concert showcased songs written by English composers Thomas Arne, Robert Johnson, and Thomas Morley to lyrics by Shakespeare (1564 – 1616).
In November 2013, we presented a concert of sacred and secular music from Spain and Spanish-influenced America, accompanied by Debra Lonergan, viola da gamba; Beth Gilford, recorders; Rex Benincasa, percussion; and Anne Crawford, chamber organ. The first half of the program featured Renaissance and Baroque music from the New World—Mexico, Guatemala, and Peru. The second half of the program was based on the Cancionero de Medinaceli manuscript from the Duke of Medinaceli’s library, compiled in the late 16th century and considered one of the most important collections of Spanish secular music of the Renaissance. The pieces include dances, villancicos, and madrigal-like songs.