ACTIVITIES

26^th of May 2018. At the Royal Monastery of Yuste

The present programme helps imagine a musical mass. The original sound of the early polyphony juxtaposes itself with the commented motets of the 20^th/21^st centuries. This framework is created by parts of the Messe de Nostre Dame by Guillaume de Machaut, among others. It is the most ancient mass resulting from the pen of a single composer. The songs: Kyre, Sanctus, Agnus Dei e Ite missa est of the work composed in 1360 characterise themselves by an isorhythmic motet with a Gregorian melody as cantus firmus in the wording.

In the mentioned motets, the synergy between old melodies or traditional beginnings of composition and a modern sound, is often found. The canticle Jauchzet dem Herrn of the Brit, Jeremy Rawson, may be interpreted as a monologue. Imitations of the preceding songs and heated and powerful modulations create a hearty Hallelujah in praising God. In the cycle Quatre petites prières de Saint François d’Assise by Francis Poulenc, archaic elements of the monastic song of the Middle Ages are related with the composer’s typical progressive harmony. In the motets Heer Gott, Dich loben wir and Wir glauben all an einen Gott, Paul Heller is inspired by Luther’s melodies and includes them in his world of neo-romantic sounds. The programme closes with simplicity and hope with Bleib bei mir, Herr, in the hope that the new day may chase the shadows away and that God be with us during life and death.