Before the Storm: Cornysh & Rasar

Join a cappella quintet, Acoustic Voices, at All Souls Parish Chapel for an intimate concert of pre-Reformation English polyphony.
About this Event

Before the Storm: Cornysh & Rasar

Get ready for an unforgettable in person concert experience at Before the Storm: Cornysh & Rasar!

Join a cappella quintet, Acoustic Voices, at All Souls Parish Chapel for an intimate concert of pre-Reformation English polyphony.
Brilliantly florid and bittersweet, but relatively unknown, William Rasar’s only extant Mass (ca.1515) had its premiere recording in 2017. We were sight-singing CPDL music and when this one came up it became quickly clear that the challenging work needed to be polished and performed at the nearest opportunity for others to enjoy. “Missa Jesu Christe” moves between minor and dorian mode, and often cadences in parallel major for a glimpse of sunlight before immediately darkening back up again.
“Salve Regina” by William Cornysh (c. 1468-1523) may be the most famous motet from the Eton choirbook, which is already one of our favorite compendia. Variety is perhaps valued above unity in this wonderfully diverse composition. Like others from its time and composer, “Salve Regina” seems to presage the later polychoral Renaissance polyphony in microcosm by alternating between various sub duets and trios of this 5-part Marian antiphon.
Capacity is only 30, so come early or get tickets ahead of time.
Suggested donation is $15 in advance
All Souls Parish
2220 Cedar St, Berkeley, CA 94709
(small chapel on west side of the church)