It has been my thought that the “Greatest Hits”-angle of St. Martin’s Chamber Choir’s next concert (i.e., that the audience and singers were the ones who actually programmed the concert by way of their votes), would in itself be a “draw,” spurring ticket sales.  However, if this angle is not a draw to you, then I urge you to look at it from another angle:  It’s actually quite a typical concert for us, and a fine group of works that would (and have) graced many of our concerts:

Beati quorum via, from “Three Motets”                      Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924)
Crucifixus                                                                                 Antonio Lotti (1667-1740)
“The Poem, the Song, the Picture”                                                 Terry Schlenker (2007)
“Never weather-beaten sail,” from Songs of Farewell             C. Hubert H. Parry (1848-1918)
Kyrie and Agnus Dei, from Mass for Four Voices                         William Byrd (1543-1623)
Ave Maria                                                                               Franz Biebl (1906-2001)
Quatre Motets                                                                         Maurice Duruflé (1902-1986)
          Tantum ergo
          Tota pulchra
          Tu es Petrus
          Ubi caritas
Alleluia                                                                                    Terry Schlenker (2005)
Mass for Double Choir                                                      Frank Martin (1890-1974)
          Kyrie
          Gloria
          Credo
          Sanctus
         Agnus Dei

  • Saturday, April 5, 7:30pm, St. Elizabeth’s Church on the Auraria Campus
  • Sunday, April 6, 3:00pm, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Wheat Ridge

Of course, I’m the one who compiled the ballot in the first place, so there was nothing on it that I would not perform; but I compiled it with input from others; and while my expectations about one or two pieces were fulfilled (I was sure, for instance, that Biebl’s Ave Maria would be chosen, as well as Terry Schlenker’s Alleluia; and, indeed, this happened), there were also some surprises for me.  For instance, that the Parry “Songs of Farewell,” the Byrd Mass for Four Voices, the Lotti Crucifixus, and the Martin Mass for Double Choir proved to be such “hits” pleased me very much in terms of the breadth of taste of our audience.  So, while many love the Biebl Ave Maria, I’m also aware that others might be thinking “not that one again!”  Hence, I encourage such persons to look at the fact that the Martin Mass, as well as Terry Schlenker’s “The Poem, the Song, the Picture” (which made its way onto the concert as a write-in!), are on the playbill as evidence that it is a concert of substance and depth.

Our appearance at one of our old venues, St. Elizabeth’s, is also proving a draw to many.  So much so that I can say, within the semi-private confines of this Weekly, that we’re a little concerned that Saturday’s concert at St. E’s will be packed, and Sunday’s concert at Holy Cross will be empty.  So, if the St. Elizabeth’s venue is not important to you, I encourage you to choose Sunday.  Holy Cross is new to us this season, and our first two concerts there have engendered rave reviews from the audience who were there in terms of acoustics, comfort, convenience, sight-lines, ample free parking, etc.  If you, however, are so excited about hearing us in St. Elizabeth’s again that you must come Saturday, then I urge you to arrive early!  Remember also that the Colfax light rail station is less than a block away from St. Elizabeth’s.

Anyway, if you are coming Saturday, you must get your tickets at the door (for a suggested donation equal to the ticket prices below, as Roman Catholic Archdiocesan policy forbids the sale of tickets), so plan on queuing, as the Brits say.  If you are coming on Sunday, you can get your tickets in advance as follows, (or at the door):

(303) 298-1970; or on our website, www.stmartinschamberchoir.org.  Premium seating $35; General Admission $25; Students $10.