In The Midst of Life... - June 2007

This concert confronts the reality that to be human is to be mortal. The title of the program, "In the Midst of Life...," comes from the Anglican burial service, and the sentence concludes with the phrase "...we are in death." The end of life can inspire sadness, peace, or fear of the unknown, but in the hands of music these emotions become easier to confront. Meditations on mortality have always transcended religiosity, and so we offer secular texts alongside sacred ones. The Requiem mass by Sermisy is a rarely-heard wonder by a little- known Flemish contemporary of Victoria and Palestrina; the fervent plea for the departed to Þnd rest is a reassuring theme. We will also survey many of the greatest English composers in history in a series of mortality-inspired pieces by Purcell, Elgar, Vaughan Williams and Tavener. Emerging Oakland composer Paul Crabtree was himself born a Briton, and his respect for popular music is subtly evident in his new work heard on this program.

Music from this concert and others from the first two seasons appear on our CD Clerestory: Live.