“Honour, Glory, Light of Flanders”

The Music of Philippe Rogier 450th Anniversary Celebration of a great choral master February 17–19, 2011 and His Majestys Sagbutts & Directed by Philip Cave

In a trio of celebratory concerts (London, Oxford and Cambridge), the award-winning ensemble Magnificat, under the directorship of founder Philip Cave, explores the works of Philippe Rogier (c. 1561-1596). This event coincides with the launch of the newest disc in Magnificat’s superb series of releases on Linn Records, Gramophone Label of the Year 2010.

World Premiere Recording

Magnificat and His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts present a collection of sacred works by Philippe Rogier. Featuring the premiere recording of the 12-voice Domine Dominus noster and Missa Domine in virtue tua, this collection celebrates the 450th anniversary of Rogier's birth and showcases the rich, varied style of Philippe Rogier’s choral music. This recording demonstrates Rogier’s position as one of the last great composers, and is available for download or purchase at www.linnrecords.com.

Concerts

The series begins in London’s St James’ Church, Piccadilly, with a glorious concert featuring polychoral music for voices and instruments. Magnificat then travel to the beautiful chapels of New College, Oxford, and Trinity College, Cambridge, for concerts featuring and two additional masses from this neglected master. Complemented by players from the celebrated ensemble His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts, these three events offer performances of the highest pedigree, and music of considerable rarity and interest.

Tickets are available now for all three of these celebratory concerts. For purchase please contact: London: St. James’ Church, Piccadilly, at 7.30 pm, Thursday, 17th February 2011 Tickets: £15 / £10 from St Martin in the Fields box office service www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org / 020 7766 1100 Oxford: New College Chapel, Oxford, 8.00 pm, Friday 18th February Tickets: £15 / £10 from The Oxford Playhouse, www.oxfordplayhouse.com/ticketsoxford / 01865 305305 Cambridge: Trinity College Chapel, Cambridge, 8.00 pm, Saturday 19th February Tickets £15, concessions £10 (students, OAPs, unwaged, TCMS members) From [email protected], or by post from Cambridge , Trinity College, Cambridge CB2 1TQ. Cheques payable to 'Cambridge Early Music', plus stamped, addressed envelope required. www.CambridgeEarlyMusic.org

Workshop

With Sally Dunkley, a member of Magnificat, Philip Cave jointly received the Noah Greenberg Award from the American Musicological Society for work on the music of Philippe Rogier. Sally and Philip will give an associated workshop for Eastern Early Music Forum on works by Rogier on February 12th in Cambridge. See www.eemf.org.uk for full details.

Rogier was Flemish by birth, but lived most of his life in Spain in the service of King Philip II. When he died in 1596 at the age of 35, Rogier had composed over 250 works, but of these only some 50 remain to give us an idea of his stature. It’s a tantalizing taste of the work of a great choral master. Rogier’s music was much admired in his own time: the famous Spanish poet described Rogier as the “honour, glory, and light of Flanders”.

The award-winning ensemble, Magnificat, was formed in 1991 by its conductor, Philip Cave, to explore the rich diversity of choral music from the last five centuries. They specialise in the restoration and performance of neglected choral masterpieces of the 16th and 17th centuries.

Magnificat has produced many stellar recording projects in association with Linn Records. Their recording of Tallis’ Spem in alium and Lamentations was named Editor’s Choice by Gramophone Magazine and First Choice on BBC Radio 3’s Building a Library. Magnificat’s Officium Defunctorum (Victoria) was chosen by the Rough Guide to Classical Music as one of its 100 Essential Classical CDs. The ensemble’s recording of Rogier’s Missa Ego sum qui sum (‘a lush, glorious, moving, sublime disc’ Gramophone Early Music Quarterly) initiated the Rogier series, which continues with this launch.

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For more information or images, please contact Joy Castleton on [email protected] or 07841406980.