Songs My Mother Taught Me

A recital honoring St. Cecilia, patron saint on Music, and the legacy of Motherhood. Mary Bonhag, soprano. Lynnette Combs, organ.
About this Event

Acclaimed soprano Mary Bonhag and organist Lynnette Combs have created a fascinating recital celebrating St. Cecilia and the legacy of all mothers, including the musicians' own.

St. Cecilia, legend has it, chose to devote her life to God even after her marriage, remaining a "virgin" or "woman unto herself" even while connected with her husband. Taking inspiration from this story, we offer a variety of pieces that span over 1000 years of music and express various perspectives of the Feminine: from the very human portrayal of Mother Mary losing Jesus at age 12 in the temple in Purcell's The Blessed Virgin Mary's Expostulation, to Hildegard von Bingen's 12th century chant to Divine Love, to a set of songs including the beloved "Songs my mother taught me" by Antonin Dvorak. Also on the program are works by Handel and Purcell from their cantatas to St. Cecilia, the beloved Marian chant Ave Maris Stella, a set of organ variations by Otto Olsson, an arrangement of a 13th cent. Lauda, a romantic French song to Mary Magdalene, and a contemporary setting of the Magnificat by Polish composer Marian Sawa. Uniquely, this program includes two Ives songs, usually performed on piano, but here offered with all the voices and colors of the organ shining through.

Mary's own mother was a church organist and choir director in the Upper Valley, and both Mary and Lynnette credit their mothers for why they became musicians. We hope you can join us for what will be a scintillating and beautiful evening of music.