Concordia Consort presents a meditative concert of Renaissance and Baroque music on Friday, March 23 at 7:30 PM in the Taylor House Music & Art Series, 50 Burroughs Street in Jamaica Plain. Concordia's four members -- Sheila Beardslee (director), George Mastellone, Brian Warnock & Henia Yacubowicz, recorders -- are joined by guest soprano Eileen Cecelia Callahan for "Teares of a Sorrowful Soule," a program of contemplative chorales and introspective psalms by such well-known composers as Byrd, Lassus, Morley, Buxtehude and Bach, as well as unfamiliar masters such as Pedersøn, Trombetti, Hassler, Cato and Wilbye. This concert is part of Taylor House's classical music series held in an intimate salon setting followed by an elegant wine reception.
Concordia's program highlights music from Lutheran, Anglican and Catholic traditions dating back to the 16th century. The beautiful Lutheran chorales "Vater unser im Himmelreich" (Our Father, set by Bach) and "O Lamm Gottes unschuldig" (O Lamb of God most holy, set by Pachelbel) open and close the program. Several of the seven "penitential psalms" are featured, including Byrd's "Miserere Deus" (Have mercy, Lord) and Pedersøn's "Ad te levavi oculos meos" (To thee do I lift up my eyes). The consort will also perform instrumental works by Bull, Lassus, Cato, Buxtehude and others.
Founded in 1995, Concordia Consort is Ensemble-in-Residence at Trinity Episcopal Church (Concord MA) and performs there several times throughout the year. Concordia has been heard in live broadcast on WHRB and WGBH Radio and in concerts at historic King’s Chapel, Old North Church and St. Paul’s Cathedral in downtown Boston, and at colleges, libraries and churches throughout New England. Concordia often joins forces with members of Ars & Amici vocal ensemble and has collaborated with sopranos Eileen Cecelia Callahan and Harriet Bridges, countertenor Andrei Caracoti, and lutenist William Good. Concordia’s CD, "Ay me, Ohime!," was released in 2009.