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Photo by Peter Torpey

We invite you to take a minute (two-and-a-half, actually) to relax and listen to this sneak peek into last week’s recording session: a raw take of the sublime Por nos virgen Madre from the Cantigas de Santa María by King Alfonso el Sabio of Castile (1221-1284). Anne Azéma is the soloist, accompanied by Christa Patton on harp; the sound engineer is our own David Griesinger.

For us, Virgin Mother, pray to God, your Father, Son and friend.
Pray to God that he help us, Pray to Him, since He is your Son and friend, pray to Him, since He is your Son and friend.
Pray that he protect us because He is without fault, your Son and friend, since He is without fault, your Son and friend.
For us, Virgin Mother, pray to God, your Father, Son and friend.

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Our healing mission is to bring music into the world. And so, Camerata’s Christmas CD project got underway last week, recording a few medieval sacred songs with the requisite partitions, masks, ventilation, and sanitation. None of this prevented the music from soaring — in fact, the increased difficulty may have even inspired the performers to higher achievement. You will judge for yourself when you hear the takes. We were also energized by the beautiful acoustic of Holy Family Parish Church, Amesbury, MA.

Thanks to our wonderful team: Anne Azéma, Joel Cohen, David Griesinger, Camila Parias, Christa Patton, Caitlin Laird, and Peter Torpey.

Our next newsletter will feature a sneak preview of the music. Stay tuned!

         

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,,
Let tyrants shake their iron rod,
And Slav’ry clank her galling chains,
We fear them not!
”
Thus sang the American revolutionaries as they engaged with – and overcame – the forces of oppression. This 4th of July weekend, we send you this stirring song, by Boston’s own William Billings, as a reminder of what is at stake in the coming weeks and months. Take heart, and enjoy!



Click here for more music from Free America! (Harmonia Mundi, 2019)

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Even as we are buffeted by the tempests of contemporary history, our need for the guidance and consolation of great art continues! We invite you to our autumn 2020 production of Henry Purcell’s only true opera, Dido and Aeneas. This intensely powerful work distills the emotions inherent in the ancient story, as rapidly alternating feelings of hope, disquiet, rejoicing, and mortal sorrow vie for their places in our modern-day hearts.

Dido, Queen of Carthage
Tahanee Aluwihare
Aeneas, a Trojan Prince
Luke Scott
Belinda, Dido’s confidant
Camila Parias

The Sorceress
Jordan Weatherston Pitts

At Camerata, we are hard at work during this early summer, imagining how we will share this powerful narrative in music with you, our public. Our Dido 2020 will be staged by Anne Azéma, with lighting and multimedia by Peter Torpey. As of today, we can safely share that we intend to present a mixed cast of live musicians on stage (vocal soloists and an instrumental ensemble led by Sarah Darling, first violin) augmented by the participation of remote singers. CDC permitting, you will be able to join us in the hall (under strict sanitation guidance) if wished, or remotely, in the safety and comfort of your own homes if you prefer. Details to be provided as soon as possible.

Here is the Entr’acte to Act II of Dido and Aeneas from Camerata’s 1979 recording, a moment of calm for your Friday and your weekend! The flute soloist is the late Nancy Joyce Roth.

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In recognition of Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States, we offer “Hebrew Children,” from the Sacred Harp (first edition 1844), which draws its stirring imagery of bondage and liberation from the Book of Daniel.

May all of us soon feel safe in our Promised Land!


from Free America, our 2019 Harmonia Mundi CD

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Agnus Dei (Gregorian) from Missa Ave Regina,
Tomás Luis de Victoria, Spain, 1548-1611)
Soloists: Deborah Rentz Moore, Anne Azéma,
under the direction of Richard Webster

Here at Camerata, our deepest wish in this period of profound American upheaval is that we may come together as one nation, in a spirit of renewal and love. We are committed to such growth and positive change.

We offer this short video from a 2015 concert performance dedicated to music heard by diverse peoples of the New World. We begin with a Gregorian chant, an Agnus Dei, imploring for peace, sung by Deborah Rentz Moore and Les Fleurs des Caraïbes. The same words, “Dona Nobis Pacem,” set by the Spanish Renaissance composer Tomás Luís de Victoria, are next heard by Camerata, assisted by Les Fleurs des Caraïbes, Trinity Choristers, and Boston City Singers, with Richard Webster conducting.

May music help to heal us and point us to a better future!

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have pity on us.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have pity on us.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, grant us peace.

The Boston Camerata with Les Fleurs des Caraïbes,
Trinity Choristers, and Boston City Singers

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The Boston Camerata stands in solidarity with all victims of oppression and injustice, and most particularly with our fellow-American sisters and brothers of color

We draw inspiration, in these days of crisis for our country, from the prophecy of Daniel, speaking for his oppressed people, as he fearlessly faces a corrupt and evil ruler.

This eloquent, deeply-felt performance by Jordan Weatherston Pitts resonates so strongly within us. May it point us towards hope, and give us increased strength to work together for a just society.


Seattle, The Play of Daniel, January 18, 2020
The Boston Camerata and assisting artists,
directed by Anne Azéma

The Prophet Daniel, confronting the Evil Ruler, interprets the Handwriting on the Wall:

O King, I do not want your gifts. Your downfall is at hand.
Your father was cast down and you too, his son, are not yourself any less wicked.

MANE: Your reign is finished.

TECHEL: You have been weighed and found wanting.

PHARES: Your kingdom shall be given over to another.

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#BlackLivesMatter #RacialEquality

During this moment of great stress and trial for our beloved nation, we at Camerata want to express our solidarity with all victims of oppression and injustice, and most particularly with our fellow-American brothers and sisters of color.

This Revolutionary song, “Free America,” inspired the theme of our most recent CD recording. The lyric you will hear speaks of resistance to tyranny, and in our opinion it is as contemporary and relevant as the day it was penned. Joel Frederiksen is the soloist.

Guard your rights, Americans!
Strasbourg 2019

Lift up your Hands, good People!
And swear with proud Disdain,
The Wretch that would enslave you,
Shall [lay] his Snares in vain;
And should [he summon] all [his] force,
We’ll meet them in Array,
And fight, and shout, and shout, and fight,
For [free] Americay!

Source: The American National Song Book (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1842). Text, after Joseph Warren (1741-1855), sung on The British Grenadiers