Sansara is delighted to be making its London debut at St Sepulchre-without-Newgate, as part of the 2015 Brandenburg Choral Festival.
The concert, called O Fili Mi, will explore themes of war, peace and parenthood from the 15th century to the present day. The first half charts the development of liturgical music from 1480 to 1680, through Mouton (Nesciens mater), Gombert (Lugebat David Absalon), and Lobo (Versa est in luctum) to Schütz (Deutsches Magnificat). David’s lament for his son Absalom is echoed by Mary’s exaltation at the conception of Jesus. Absalom died in battle, and the first piece of the second half is also a reflection on conflict: Mauersberger’s Wie liegt die Stadt so wüst was written 70 years ago this year, amidst the ruins of Dresden, fire-bombed by the RAF. A cry for peace also closes Vaughan William’s great Mass in G minor, to be performed in the second half of the concert. The mass is dedicated to Gustav Holst, composer of the Nunc Dimittis which closes the evening; a work that is both a liturgical text and a very personal plea for an end to conflict.
-----------------------------------------
Jean Mouton - Nesciens mater
Peter Philips - Cantantibus organis
Peter Philips - Surgens Jesus
Nicolas Gombert - Lugebat David Absalon
Alonso Lobo - Versa est in luctum
Heinrich Schütz - Deutsches Magnificat
----------
Rudolf Mauersberger - Wie liegt die Stadt so wüst
Ralph Vaughan Williams - Mass in G minor
Gustav Holst - Nunc Dimittis
-----------------------------------------
Tickets are available (£18/£5) via the festival's website.