A Rose of Such Virtue
December 11, 2016
The Ann Arbor Grail Singers presented an exciting concert of Christmas music spanning twelve centuries! Directed by Carmen Cavallaro, the 16-voice women’s choir was accompanied by Beth Gilford, recorder; Gail Arnold, bray harp; James Perretta, gamba; and Anne Crawford, organ.
This festive holiday concert program included a 9th century Advent hymn, Gregorian chant, and a wide variety of Renaissance Christmas music from England, France, Spain, and the German empire. Featured were several settings of Es ist ein Ros entsprungen (A rose has sprung up), a Christmas carol and Marian Hymn of German origin.
Music from Codex Speciálnik, a Prague Manuscript c. 1500
May 7, 2017
The Ann Arbor Grail Singers presented an exciting concert of music from the Codex Speciálnik, one of the oldest surviving collections of Czech renaissance polyphony. The manuscript was compiled for use in the Prague Utraquist congregations of the Bohemian Reformation around 1500. This “special” song-book embraces nearly a century of Western Renaissance style, while also featuring new fruits from the burgeoning Czech culture.
Because a digital copy of the original pages is now available on line, director Carmen Cavallaro has transcribed selections directly from the manuscript for our 15 voice women’s choir. This fascinating program was also accompanied by several instrumentalists including Beth Gilford on recorder, Doris Williams playing bray harp, and Stefan Stolarchuk on the sackbut.