From Constantinople to Canada! Cappella Romana at Chorus America

At the invitation of Chorus America, three award-winning choirs join together to present Constantinople to Canada at Chorus America in Seattle

CAPPELLA ROMANA (Portland, OR/Seattle, WA)
ELEKTRA WOMEN’S CHOIR (Vancouver, BC)
COASTAL SOUND YOUTH CHOIR (Vancouver, BC)

One performance only starting at 2:00pm on Saturday, June 15th, 2013. (Note student rush $10 is at the door only).

CAPPELLA ROMANA

Having just returned from its European tour (UK, Germany, Greece), Cappella Romana presents a 500-year journey of Greek musical culture from Constantinople to North America with poignant chants from the court of the last Eastern Roman (Byzantine) emperors. The full version of this program (to be performed on Saturday night at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, Seattle) follows the Byzantine tradition into musical encounters with the Renaissance West, including Greek and Latin polyphony from Venetian-ruled Crete and Cyprus. East meets West again at St. Sophia Cathedral in Los Angeles, where Frank Desby founded a tradition of Greek-American choral music. In the works of Desby and his colleagues, Greek chant is recast with elements from the American cultural melting pot: Russian choral music, Gregorian chant, Renaissance polyphony and even jazz harmonies.

ELEKTRA WOMEN’S CHOIR

In keeping with its focus on promoting Canadian choral music, Elektra Women’s Choir will perform an all-Canadian program. Works sung include “One Voice” by Ruth Moody, “Thou Shalt Know Him” by Mark Sirett, “Psalm 30” by Jeffrey Enns, “Consider the Lilies” by Stephen Smith, “Noche de Lluvia” from Canciones por las Americas by Sid Robinovitch, “Changed Forever” by Shari Ulrich, arr. Kate MacColl, and “Joy” by Kathleen Allan.

COASTAL SOUND YOUTH CHOIR

Wrapping up the afternoon, is the Coastal Sound Youth Choir with an energetic and eclectic performance including Muusika by Estonia’s Pärt Uusberg, U2’s With or Without You and The Count from Sesame Street as well as Bruckner’s Ave Maria and music by Arvo Pärt.

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