Brahms and MacMillan Motets

This concert pairs motets by two brilliant yet contrasting composers: Johannes Brahms and James MacMillan. Continuing in the footsteps of J.S. Bach, Brahms motets have multiple movements, sometimes based on choral melodies or variations on a cantus firmus. Brahms takes the genre to new heights incorporating lush harmonies and chromaticism characteristic of his other works and those of his Romantic era peers.

In contrast, modern Scottish composer James Macmillan also has his own unique style with ornamental flourishes and a rhythmic language that is very distinctive in his choral writing. At the center of the program is MacMillan's Miserere. An astonishing and ravishing work, Miserere is partially inspired by the Allegri setting of the same text, which is one of the most famous choral pieces of all time. Octet Victoria will be joined by an additional eight singers to form an expanded choir of sixteen. The concert will be conducted by Char Hodgkins and David Stratkauskas.