Artists' Vocal Ensemble and The Whole Noyse
present:
1508-letters
The year 1508 was very significant in the artistic world of Europe. Pope Julius commissioned Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel ceiling. The League of Cambrai was organized, forming alliances between the Holy Roman Emperor Maximillian I (in present-day Germany and Austria) and Louis XII of France. A strong fertilization of musical ideas took place between the Netherlands and Germany. The Cathedral of Constance, in present-day Germany, commissioned Heinrich Isaac to compose the first polyphonic setting of the complete Propers for the Christian year, The Choralis Constantinus.

In this concert, AVE looked at the extraordinary contribution of the Choralis Constantinus, exactly 500 years after its inception. With much of the concert weighted towards this and other works by Heinrich Isaac, the concert also explored works by his famous contemporary, Josquin des Pres. This is a natural relationship, since Isaac was of South –Netherlands origin but moved to Germany; Josquin, who was also Flemish-born, lived most of his professional life in Italy and France, finally retiring in the Flemish region. (Curiously, the only piece of known writing in Josquin’s own hand is some graffiti on the wall of the Sistine Chapel!) In 1508, he was Provost of the Collegiate Church of Notre Dame in Conde-sur-l’Escaut.

For the first time, the Artists’ Vocal Ensemble joined forces with the highly acclaimed The Whole Noyse ensemble of Renaissance instruments. The program provided both an exquisite glimpse into the world of 1508, and an experience of solace, beauty, and balance.

This concert was performed at St. Ignatius, San Francisco, St. Mark’s, Berkeley and Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church.

Underlying the musical performance, 1508 sought to raise awareness for
the Earth Island Institute (‘EII’), a non-profit organization that
develops projects for the conservation, preservation, and restoration of
the global environment by fostering the efforts of creative individuals.

Click here for the concert poster (pdf)