Concert: Beverley Early Music Festival

Date: Saturday 28 May 2016, 7.30 pm    Venue: Beverley Minster, Highgate, Beverley HU17 0DN

The Virgin Mary has long inspired great music from great musicians. This programme features music from four of the greatest Renaissance composers – Lassus, Victoria, Byrd and Palestrina. The sumptuous Missa Osculetur me takes its inspiration from the Song of Songs (a book often used for texts in honour of the Virgin) and Lassus relishes the sonorities of eight voices talking in dialogue. Interspersed are more modest motets by Victoria. The second half includes an entire sequence of music for the Mass of the Nativity of the Virgin by William Byrd interspersed with plainsong. Three less well-known pieces by three Spanish masters (Padilla, Anchieta and Guerrero) begin the half but the Italian giant Palestrina has the last word and is seen at his most ebullient in his eight-voice Magnificat primi toni for eight voices, clearly designed for a grand celebration.

Book tickets by telephone on 01904 658338, in person at National Centre for Early Music (entrance in Percy’s Road, just off Navigation Road), St Margaret’s Church, Walmgate, York YO1 9TL (open Mon-Fri 9.00 am to 5.00 pm), or online at www.ncem.co.uk