A Contemplative Christmas: Holiday Music by the Spiritual Minimalists

The Spiritual Minimalist composers Arvo Pärt, John Tavener, and Henryk Górecki have won the dedication of listeners of all sensibilities, including lovers of popular music, early music aficionados, and followers of the avant-garde. All three of these composers turned to sacred music at a time when modern composers frequently rejected sacred music for secular influences, creating music that is meditative, hypnotic, and gently repetitive.

Join Sacred & Profane as we sing the moving music of these important composers, as well as the music of one of their Medieval inspirations, Hildegard von Bingen. Our concert will include celebrated pieces such as Pärt’s Magnificat, Tavener’s The Lamb, and Górecki’s Totus Tuus.

Saturday, December 8, 8 PM St. Mark’s Episcopal Church 2300 Bancroft Way (at Ellsworth) Berkeley

Saturday, December 15, 8 PM First Presbyterian Church of Alameda 2001 Santa Clara Ave (at Chestnut) Alameda

Sunday, December 16, 4 PM St. Francis Lutheran Church 152 Church Street (btwn Duboce & Market) San Francisco

Program

Hildegard von Bingen: O frondens virga

Tavener: The Lamb

Pärt: Magnificat

Górecki: Totus Tuus

Tavener: Christmas Round

Tavener: Today the Virgin

Górecki: Marian Songs

Górecki: Three Lullabies

Pärt: Bogoroditse Djevo

Pärt: Da Pacem Domine

Tavener: A Hymn the Mother of God