Lassus and Weelkes: Psalms and Madrigals

BREMF Consort of Voices
James Elias director

This is a concert of two very different halves. The first half offers Lassus’ richly textured and emotional penitential psalms. Lassus paints the psalmist’s words in fluid five-part harmony, as he moves between the emotional states of despair, fear for the mounting strength of his enemies, physical malady, and, underpinning them all, his faith in God. In contrast, the second half is an exploration of the variety in Weelkes’ music. Bookended by two triumphant anthems “I heard a voice” and “Hosanna to the son of David”, the choir will sing a selection of his madrigals, which range from songs about love, to drinking songs, even to a song about a village fete!