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Friday, February 1, 2013

Renaissance Candlemas

Valentin Radu conducts the Vox Renaissance Consort
Click here for tickets.

Under the musical direction of Valentin Radu, the lushly costumed professional vocalists and period-instrument troubadours of the Vox Renaissance Consort will perform Renaissance Candlemas, glorious music from the Renaissance and early Baroque periods celebrating this time of year when the harshness of winter slowly begins to give way to the glories of spring.

Maestro Radu explains: “Candlemas is one of the most ancient festivals of the Church. It is celebrated forty days after Christmas, generally on February 2. It is also called The Feast of the Presentation, since it commemorates the Presentation of the Christ Child in the Temple in Jerusalem as well as the Ritual Purification of Mary as was prescribed by Mosaic Law. Of this Presentation, the Gospel of Luke relates that Simeon the Righteous blessed the Babe and then uttered the famous words of the Nunc dimittis (“Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word”). A popular feature of the Candlemas religious service was the blessing of beeswax candles and their procession through the church. I also find it interesting to note that many scholars believe that Candlemas had its roots in pre-Christian European winter celebrations observed in early February, and that from among these sprang a famous Pennsylvania Dutch tradition that is still observed every February 2!

“The music of the Renaissance and early Baroque periods that embodies the themes of Candlemas is gloriously beautiful and often serene. The Vox Renaissance Consort Candlemas programs will feature, among others, two Franco-Flemish works, Hodie Beata Virgo Maria by Jacob Arcadelt and Ave maris stella by Guillaume Dufay, as well as the well-known eight-voice Jubilate Deo by the Venetian Giovanni Gabrieli and a setting of Psalm 121 by the German Heinrich Schütz.”

Renaissance Candlemas will be presented twice, in two locations: first, on Friday, February 8, at 8:00 PM at the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, 8000 St. Martin’s Lane and Willow Grove Avenue; and again on Sunday, February 10, at 6:00 PM at Daylesford Abbey, 220 South Valley Road in Paoli.

General Admission tickets are $10 for students, $20 for seniors, $25 for all others and go on sale at the door approximately 45 minutes prior to concert time.

For tickets call VoxAmaDeus at 610-688-2800 or click here.