Songs of Contemplation: Music for Lent

Saturday 24 March 2018 • 7.30 pm

St Michael’s Church, Bishop’s Stortford

Music to reflect the Lenten atmosphere. Gesualdo’s Tenebrae Responsories for Holy Saturday are powerful and full of emotion, with often startling harmonic progressions unlike much other polyphony of its age.

MacMillan beautifully sets the text of the Miserere with drama and serene calm, mirroring the words in all their variety and colour.

Finally, we present Tormis’ Four Estonian Lullabies. Tormis is much regarded in his home country, and was once Arvo Pärt’s teacher; he ‘retired’ from composing in the year 2000, but is still a fierce evangelist for Estonia’s traditional folk songs.