Bold as Brass
Works for choir and brass by Gabrieli, Brahms, Bruckner and others
From Dufay to David Hamilton, Nota Bene’s next concert combines voices with brass in seldom heard music from the Renaissance through to the present day.
Giovanni Gabrieli wrote not only for choirs of voices but also ‘choirs’ of trombones. Much of his music was written for St. Mark's Cathedral in Venice, with its two choir lofts facing each other. This unusual layout inspired him to explore the spatial effects of works involving two groups of singers or instruments tossing musical phrases back and forth between them. Gabrieli was also one of the first composers to write choral works with parts for instrumental ensembles, and this concert includes his setting of O magnum mysterium, written for double choir and trombones.
Anton Bruckner’s Ecce Sacerdos and Afferentur regi are two of his most impressive motets. Both are scored for choir and three trombones, and these will be presented alongside two rare works of his for trombone trio, as well as other motets and his little-known setting of Du bist wie eine Blume.
Two sets of Brahms songs, one for a cappella choir and the other with harp and horn accompaniment, are central to the programme and the concert will end with David Hamilton’s haunting work for choir and two horns, The Moon is Silently Singing.
Nota Bene is pleased to welcome back Peter Walls as guest conductor and other performers will include trombonists Matthew Allison and David Bremner, organist Douglas Mews and harpist Ingrid Bauer.
Bold as Brass
Saturday 29 March, 7.30pm
Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hill Street, Wellington
Tickets $25, concession $20, schoolchildren free
Door sales, or pre-book ph 479 1156
With support from the Infinity Foundation Limited
