‘Thanksgivings for Life and Love’ are concerts’ theme

LAKEVILLE — Crescendo presents “Thanksgivings for Life and Love,” Feb. 1-2, a program that “illustrates a parallel between spiritual issues set to music by Spanish Renaissance masters, and social justice and human rights matters expressed musically in a merging of folklore themes, popular songs and classical contemporary works by famous 20th century Latin American composers,” according to a statement.

Works by some of Spain’s most remarkable Renaissance composers such as Tomás Luis de Victoria, Francisco Guerrero and Antonio Lobo are featured. In contrast, choral and instrumental arrangements based on Latin

American folk melodies by Carlos Guastavino (Argentina), Violeta Parra and Victor Jara (Chile) will be performed.

Artistic Director Christine Gevert draws the connection, saying, “Renaissance Polyphony appeals to us because of its complexity, its formal balance, and its melodic flow. It can transport us into a state of meditation and contemplation and provide a still place. The Latin American works, connected to those early works by a common theme or word, reach us on a different level. They appeal directly to our emotions with their lively rhythms, and transport us to a different cultural environment with their colorful instruments. The Latin American ‘Nueva Canción,’ a folk-inspired musical genre with socially committed lyrics, appeared in the 1960s and 1970s.”

The Crescendo Vocal Ensemble is joined by Alturas Duo — Carlos Boltes, charango and viola, Scott Hill, guitar —and Gonzalo Cortes on quena, zampoña and percussio), as well as tenor and quena player Ignacio Ugarte from Barcelona, Spain. Gevert directs from the organ, with Hideki Yamaya on theorbo.

Performances are at 4 p.m. Feb. 1 at Saint James Place, 352 Main St., Great Barrington, Mass., and at 4 p.m. Feb. 2, at the United Methodist Church, 319 Main St., Lakeville.

Tickets are $35 general, $60 premium, $10 students. For more information and tickets: www. worldclassmusic.org

Contributed photo / The Crescendo Vocal Ensemble is joined Feb. 1 by Alturas Duo (Carlos Boltes, charango and viola, Scott Hill, guitar) and Gonzalo Cortes (quena, zampoña and percussion), as well as tenor and quena player Ignacio Ugarte from Barcelona, Spain. Christine Gevert directs from the organ, with Hideki Yamaya on theorbo.