Carpe Musicam! presents treasures of Easter music
Carefully selected treasures of Easter music are to be performed by Carpe Musicam! Orchestra and Choir in April.
Carpe Musicam! conductor and music arranger Norman Carless says: "The crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus have inspired a huge volume of music over the last 2 000 years.
"Even scratching the surface of the works written since the 1600s - and the birth of the musical system with which we are familiar - is a massive task."
With great care he has selected 15 well-known pieces for the orchestra and choir to perform for the Easter concert, Amazing Grace, to be presented in Mossel Bay, George and Sedgefield.
The programme consists of pieces with a wide variety of musical styles. All the items deal, in one way or another, with the events of the Passion, or the amazing grace that flowed from it.
From the heart-rending orchestral, Were You There? to the slightly renaissance-styled Fantasy on Ancient Hymns to the bouncy, Celtic treatment of Of The Father’s Love Begotten, there is something to touch the heart of every audience member – even Fanie who only came along with ma so that he wouldn’t have to mow the lawn while she was out.
Virtuoso violin solo
Violin soloist Cherith Bain of Sedgefield will open the concert with the title work, Amazing Grace -a virtuoso solo work for violin and orchestra based on the popular melody traditionally associated with John Newton’s famous hymn.
Debut cello soloist, Ané Prins, will perform an excerpt from Max Bruch’s Kol Nidrei - based on the haunting declaration sung near the beginning of the observance of Yom Kippur, or the Jewish Day of Atonement.
There are orchestral versions of the great hymn tunes of All Creatures of Our God and King and A Mighty Fortress is Our God, as well as operatic choruses from Cavalleria Rusticana and Tannhäuser, with full choir and orchestra. These and more musical treats are in store for Garden Route music lovers at the Amazing Grace concerts.
The performances take place on Friday, 5 April, at 19:00 at Outeniqua High School, George; on Sunday, 7 April, at 15:30 in the Mossel Bay Town Hall; and on Friday, 12 April, at 19:00 in the DRC/NGK, Sedgefield.
The best way to book is online (www.carpemusicam.co.za). Tickets cost R150 for adults and R50 for under 18s. Refreshments will be on sale at all the concerts.