Seattle Bach Choir: Leonardo
$20 ($18 students/seniors)
The Seattle Bach Choir, under the direction of Dr Anne Lyman, is pleased to present LEONARDO, a concert of music celebrating the 500th anniversary of the death of Leonardo da Vinci.
Our program begins with works by three composers who lived and worked in Leonardo’s Italy: Tromboncino, Josquin Desprez, and Gesualdo. Tromboncino is one of the only composers to whom we know Leonardo had a connection. He was well-known in his day both as a composer and for his various crimes including the infamous murder of his wife. Later in the program we will perform Eric Whitacre’s contemporary work Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine, in which the composer intersperses original lyrics with snippets of Leonardo’s own writings, all in an updated Monteverdian style.
The Seattle Bach Choir continues its performance cycle of motets by J. S. Bach with two of his most uplifting ones: Der Geist Hilft and Lobet den Herrn. Der Geist Hilft, translated as “The Spirit Gives Aid to Our Weakness,” was a funeral motet composed in the usual double-choir style. Rather than being a piece for mourning, the text is treated in a lively, dance-like manner. Less is known about Lobet den Herrn, “Praise the Lord All Ye Nations.” It is likely an early work, scored for only four voices with a rousing “Alleluia” at the end. As had become custom we will be performing these works with Baroque instruments at the traditional lower pitch.
LEONARDO is also Dr. Lyman’s final concert with the Seattle Bach Choir, coming at the end of her tenth season with the choir. Many of the pieces on the program represent favorites of Dr. Lyman’s time with the Seattle Bach Choir, including Evening Song by Elisha West, Vita de la Mia Vita by William Hawley, and My Spirit Sang All Day by Gerald Finzi.