In Praise of St Cecilia
Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1643-1704) – Litanies de la vierge H. 83 (1684)
Henry Purcell (1659-1695) – Welcome to all the pleasures, Z339
Marc-Antoine Charpentier – Caecilia Virgo et Martyr H.413 (1684)
Sestina Music directed by Mark Chambers presents In Praise of St. Cecilia, a powerful programme celebrating the patron saint of music. Purcell’s celebratory ode, Welcome to all the Pleasures is a vibrant celebration of solo and choral harmonies blending poetry and music. Commissioned by The Musical Society, London, for St Cecilia’s Day 1683, it is a lively piece that exudes youthfulness and artistic camaraderie. A chamber oratorio, Caecilia Virgo et Martyr showcases Charpentier’s ability to exquisitely convey drama and emotion through music. In contrast, Charpentier’s profound spiritual sensitivity is evident in the solemn Litanies de la vierge, which employs intricate polyphony to evoke reverence and reflection. Brought to life by Sestina Music’s talented singers and their band of authentic period instrumentalists, each piece reveals a distinct facet of Baroque music demonstrating the era’s richness and the depth of the composer’s creativity in captivating and enthralling ways.
5th April
