Programme Offer ENSEMBLE VERSUS

Programmes for 2016

Epiphany: Christmas of the 16th and 20th Centuries (Stolzer, Josquin, Clemens, Lassus, Poulenc)

Brno 1550 Marian motets of Josquin Desprez and the masses of Antoine de Févin Ave Maria from the renaissance collection of Brno. With accompaniment of renaissance trombones (sackbuts).

Before the Storm Motets of Rudophine musicians Nicolaus Zangius and Hans Leo Hassler. With the renaissance wind ensemble Capella Ornamentata.

Jiří Melcelius’s A forgotten jewel of Czech baroque music. Versus + :II: Ritornello :II: + Consortio Melcelii

Programmes for individual liturgical terms Sung contemplations, motets of the 16th and 20th centuries. Programme to be adjusted to time and venue.

Advent – Christmas – Lent – Easter – Whitsun The chamber choir Ensemble Versus specialises in sacred music of the renaissance, early baroqu, the 20th century and in contemporary sacred music. They aim at original and thematically coherent dramaturgy of individual productions – sung contemplations rather than concerts.

Further information on individual projects to be requested from the chorus master Vladimír Maňas. [email protected], +420777948214 www.ensembleversus.cz

Joint programmes of the Ensemble Versus and the Capella Ornamentata The combination of a chamber choir, specialising in 16th and early 17th century repertoire, and of a renowned professional ensemble of renaissance wind instruments with the continuo provides an opportunity to hear the music of the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries in unique freshness and richness of the combination of voices and instruments. The joint projects return to the historical practice of interchangeable musical parts. Cornets, trombones (sackbuts) and a curtal play from the singers’ parts, while in other works they play independently. Multichoral compositions, common in Venice as well as in central Europe, counts with this variability and invites it. Capella Ornamentata (cornets, trombones/sackbuts, curtal), leader Richard Šeda Ensemble Versus (chamber choir for sacred music, Brno), leader Vladimír Maňas Marek Čermák, continuo (positive, harpsichord)

Concerti Ecclesiastici The Church Year in the Works of Giovanni Gabrieli and his Contemporaries The little known two-choir works of Jacobus Handl Gallus or the motets of Jacobus Vaet – two composers active predominantly in the Czech lands – are juxtaposed with the works of the great composers Orlando di Lasso or Giovanni Gabrieli. The programme is enlarged by instrumental compositions of the early 17th century and earlier polyphonic repertoire. The result is a varied mosaic of works cutting across the entire liturgical year. For churches, this programme is ideal for the “ordinary time” (Tempus per annum) of the liturgical year.

Girolamo Frescobaldi (1583–1643): Canzon à 8 Carlo Gesualdo (1566–1613): Illumina faciem tuam à 5 Roland de Lassus (1532–1594): Omnes de Saba à 8 Giovanni Gabrieli (1557–1612): à 8 Jacobus Vaet (1529–1567): Miserere mei, Deus à 5 Jacobus Handl Gallus Beata Christi passio à 8 Claudio Merulo (1533–1604): Canzon Vigesimaterza à 5 Roland de Lassus: Tristis est anima mea à 5 Josquin Desprez (cca 1450–1521): Stabat Mater à 5 /cca 1495/ Roland de Lassus: Surrexit Dominus vere à 6 Francesco Usper (cca 1570–1641): Battaglia à 8 Giovanni Domenico Rognoni Taeggio (†1624/6?): Tota pulchra es à 8 Jacobus Handl Gallus: Duo seraphim à 8 Giovanni Gabrieli: Plaudite omnis terra à 12 The programme was premiered at the festival of Dačice Baroque Days on 26 August 2012. The programme can be modified to suit the occasion (see programmes below). Sample: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDIcLpOeLWs (Francesco Usper: Battaglia)

We have come to bow… Christmas Time around 1600 Puer natus in Betlehem à 4 (Piae cantiones 1582) Michael Praetorius (1571–1621): Puer natus in Betlehem à 6 Roland de Lassus (1532–1594): Omnes de Saba à 8 Josquin Desprez (cca 1450–1521): Gaude Virgo à 4 Giovanni Gabrieli (1557–1612): Magnificat à 8 Giovanni Domenico Rognoni Taeggio (†1624/6?): Tota pulchra es à 8 Francesco Usper (cca 1570–1641): Battaglia à 8 Budiž pochválen Bůh na výsosti (Lord be praised in Heaven; Rozenplut’s Collection 1601) Michael Praetorius: Quem pastores laudavere Claudio Merulo (1533–1604): Canzon Vigesimaterza à 5 Michael Praetorius: In dulci jubilo à 2 Francisco Guerrero (1528–1599): Ibant Magi à 4 Josquin Desprez (cca 1450–1521): Ave Maria gratia plena à 4 Jacobus Handl Gallus (1550–1591): Duo seraphim à 8 Giovanni Gabrieli: Plaudite omnis terra à 12 Michael Praetorius: Parvulus nobis nascitur à 4 Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2onEOZlXzNw (Roland de Lassus: Omnes de Saba)

Sung Contemplations for Lent Jacobus Handl Gallus (1550–1591): Beata Christi passio à 8 Roland de Lassus (1532–1594): In monte Oliveti à 5 Roland de Lassus: Tristis est anima mea à 5 Nicolaus Zangius (1570–1617): Ad te levavi à 6 Carlo Gesualdo (1566–1613): Illumina faciem tuam à 5 Roland de Lassus (1532–1594): Media vita à 6 Josquin Desprez (cca 1450–1521): Stabat Mater à 5 Jacobus Vaet (1529–1567): Miserere mei, Deus à 5 Carlo Gesualdo: Tribulationem et dolorem à 5 Nicolaus Zangius: Deus misereatur nostri à 8 Jacobus Handl Gallus: Adoramus Te Christe à 8 Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMh1AI34nqo (Jacobus Handl Gallus: Beata Christi passio)

Surrexit Pastor bonus! Sung Contemplations for Easter Girolamo Frescobaldi (1583–1643): Canzon à 8 Nicolaus Zangius (1570–1617): Ad te levavi à 6 Jacobus Vaet (1529–1567): Videns Dominus à 5 Robert Parsons (1535–1572): Credo, quod Redemptor meus vivit à 6 Claudio Merulo (1533–1604): Canzon Vigesimaterza à 5 Jean L'Heritier (cca 1480–cca 1551): Surrexit Pastor bonus à 6 (cca 1495–cca 1560): Ego sum qui sum à 7 Roland de Lassus (1532–1594): Surrexit Dominus vere à 6 Nicolaus Zangius (1570–1617): Exultate iusti in Domino à 6 Francesco Usper (cca 1570–1641): Battaglia à 8 Jacobus Handl Gallus (1550–1591): Duo seraphim à 8 Hansl Leo Hassler (1564–1612): Angelus Domini à 8 Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oq99eab5r8k (Jacobus Handl Gallus: Duo seraphim)

Music for the Holy Week Jacobus Handl Gallus (1550–1591): Beata Christi passio à 8 Carolus Luython (1556–1620): Gloria laus et honor à 6 Philippe de Monte (1521–1603): Domine vim Patior à 5 Jacobus Vaet (1529–1567): Miserere mei, Deus à 5 Philippe de Monte: Filiae Jerusalem nolite flere à 5 Roland de Lassus (1532–1594): In monte Oliveti à 5 Roland de Lassus: Tristis est anima mea à 5 Jacobus de Kerle (1531–1591): Media vita à 6 (1540–1599): O vos omnes à 4 Jacobus de Kerle: Adoramus Te à 4 Asprilio Pacelli (1570–1623): O vere digna hostia à 8

Before the Storm The Music of Rudolphus II’s Time Da pacem Domine (choral) Jacob Paix (1556–cca 1623): Da pacem Domine (organ transcription of Orlando di Lasso’s ) Hans Leo Hassler (1564–1612): Ad Dominum cum tribularer clamavi à 5 Nicolaus Zangius (1570–1617): Ad te levavi à 6 Roland de Lassus (1532–1594): In monte Oliveti à 5 Nicolaus Zangius: Jesu dulcis memoria à 6 Giovanni Domenico Rognoni Taeggio (†1624/6?): Tota pulchra es à 8 Nicolaus Zangius: Tota pulchra es à 6 Jacobus de Kerle (1531–1591): Media vita à 6 Nicolaus Zangius: Exultate iusti in Domino à 6 Hansl Leo Hassler: Angelus Domini à 8 Jacobus Handl Gallus (1550–1591): Duo seraphim à 8 Roland de Lassus: Da pacem Domine à 6 Nicolaus Zangius: Deus misereatur nostri à 8 Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGtPOV-a1xs (concert recording of 10 November 2013)

Joint Programmes of the Ensemble Versus and the Ensemble Opera Diversa Ondřej Kyas: Stabat Mater Ondřej Kyas is the court composer of the Ensemble Opera Diversa and his Stabat Mater (2010) is one of the greatest and certainly the most ambitious piece composed for the ensemble. The score calls for a large and a small choir, a chamber orchestra, soprano and basso solo, piano and organ. Soprano solo Hana Škarková, basso solo Aleš Procházka, organ Martin Jakubíček, piano Ondřej Kyas, choir Vox Iuvenalis, chamber choir Versus, conductor Jan Ocetek. The composer structured his oratorio piece in a conventional way, with an expansive apparatus. In addition to traditional parts for the large choir with orchestra (both are placed in the presbytery), the composer also makes use of contrasting passages. These are polyphonic chamber choir passages performed a capella and sung from the organ loft. The instrumental parts sound across the nave of the church. Weeping and mourning seems to have become luxury that we cannot afford today. Social conventions require that we recover immediately from the vicissitudes of life, put on a smile and get back to the practicalities of daily routine, which often crushes us out of all proportion. In such moments, such music as that inspired by the lyrics of the Stabat Mater can help us to get over those suppressed painful feelings and help us live through the experiences in the sense of the Classical catharsis – the inner conflict is resolved without suppressing; the sense is restored; the mind is cleansed. Then can we go on. – Ondřej Kyas Duration 65 minutes. A 20-piece orchestra of strings and a small wind section. Solo soprano & basso voices, organ, large and small choir, conductor.

Contemporary Sacred Music: Zagar, Kyas, Graham The six-part cantata Apocalypsis Ioannis for strings, choir and solos by the Slovak composer Peter Zagar (born 1961) was written in 1997. Peter Graham (Jaroslav Šťastný) labeled the cantata, in his commentary on Slovak compositions, as surprisingly consonant. Graham’s Sonata da chiesa for strings was also composed in 1997. The choice of his Sonata for this programme of sacred music derives from the tradition of church sonatas that used to be performed during the mass in the Baroque era. Besides, there are common elements between both works, in their reflection of techniques and compositional approaches across history and the inner spiritual nature of the piece. The programme comprising of other pieces of sacred music concludes with a joyful cantata for choir and strings called Magnificat was composed by Ondřej Kyas exclusively for Ensemble Opera Diversa. Ondřej Kyas: Introitus for strings (2013) Peter Zagar: Apocalypsis Ioannis for soprano and alto voice, choir and strings (1997) Peter Graham: Sonata da chiesa for strings (1997) Igor Stravinskij: Our Father for choir a capella (1926) Ondřej Kyas: Magnificat for choir and strings Duration 75 minutes without intermission. String orchestra, 16 players at least. Solo soprano and solo alto, chamber choir, conductor.

Contemporary Sacred Music: Matthews, Kyas, Graham, Hejnar The concert is dedicated to sacred compositions of the last two decades and starts with a remarkable piece, Introit by the British composer David Matthews. Te Deum Laudamus (2014) was commissioned from Ondřej Kyas by the Ensemble Versus and the Ensemble Opera Diversa. Solo soprano Jana Tajovská Krajčovičová. Conductor Gabriela Tardonová. David Matthews: Introit for string orchestra and 2 trumpets Peter Graham: Sacred music concert for bass clarinet, 2 trumpets, organ, strings and choir Robert Hejnar: Hommage a Concerto grosso for cello and strings Ondřej Kyas: Te Deum Laudamus for soprano solo, organ, trumpet, choir and strings Duration 75 minutes with no intermission. String orchestra, 16 players at least, solo soprano, bass clarinet, cello, 2 trumpets, organ, chamber choir, conductor.

Contemporary Sacred Music: Matthews, Kyas, Graham This programme comprises several successful works. Ondřej Kyas’s compositions were written bespoke for the Ensemble Opera Diversa and the chamber choir Ensemble Versus. David Matthews’s Introit was performed by the Diversa in Czech premiere in October 2014 alongside with the world premiere of Ondřej Kyas’s contemplative Te Deum, culminating in the duet of soprano and solo trumpet. Soprano Jana Tajovská Krajčovičová. Conductor Gabriela Tardonová. Ondřej Kyas: Introitus for strings (2013) Peter Graham: Sonata da chiesa for strings (1997) Ondřej Kyas: Magnificat for choir and strings (2012) Ondřej Kyas: Te Deum laudamus for soprano solo, organ, trumpet, choir and strings (2014) David Matthews: Introit for string orchestra and 2 trumpets (1981) Duration 65 minutes with no intermission. String orchestra, 16 players at least, solo soprano, bass clarinet, cello, 2 trumpets, organ, chamber choir, conductor.

Contemporary Sacred Music: Kyas, Pärt Conductor Gabriela Tardonová. Ondřej Kyas: Introitus for strings (2013) Arvo Pärt: Berlin Mass for choir and strings (1990) Ondřej Kyas: Te Deum laudamus for soprano solo, organ, trumpet, choir and strings (2014) Duration 65 minutes with no intermission. String orchestra, 16 players at least, solo soprano, trumpet, organ, chamber choir, conductor.

Contacts:

Dr. Vladimír Maňas [email protected] T: +420.777.948.214 http://en.operadiversa.cz/choir