UMS Concert Program, December 9, 1977: New York Ensemble For Early Music -- Frederick Renz

Concert: Fourth
Complete Series: 4092
Rackham Auditorium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

The University Musical Society
The [Diversity of Michigan
Presents
New York
ENSEMBLE FOR EARLY MUSIC
FREDERICK RENZ, Director
Johanna Arnold, soprano
Daniel Collins, countertenor
Wendy Gillespie, vielle, rebec, violin, tnandora, sacbut
David Hart, flutes, pipe and tabor, lute, harp Frederick Renz, portative organ, organistrum, bells
Friday Evening, December 9, 1977, at 8:30 Rackham Auditorium, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Christemasse in Anglia
Thirteenth and Fourteenth Century Rex virginum
King, lover of virgins, God, glory of Mary: have mercy upon us.
Who brought forth Mary from royal stock: . . .
Receive her prayer, a worthy offering on behalf of the world: . . .
Oh, Christ, God from the Father, born a man from thy mother, Mary: have mercy
upon us.
Whom Mary gave forth to the world from her holy womb: . . . Accept our praises, consecrated to thy beloved Mary: . . . Oh Comforter, protecting the body of Mary: have mercy upon us. Who made the body of Mary a worthy chamber: . . .
Who raisest the spirit of Mary above the skies, Make us ascend after her through thy power, beloved Spirit: . . .
Estampie
Edi bco
Happy be thou, heavenly Queen, man's comfort and angel's bliss. Mother unstained and maiden clean, such in world none other is. Of thee easily it is seen that of all women thou hast the prize. My sweet lady, hear my boon and rue of me if thy will is.
Ductia
Fourth Concert Fifteenth Annual Chamber Arts Series Complete Programs 4092
Angelas ad virginum
The Angel said to the Virgin, stealing into the chamber and calming her fearfulness: Hail, Queen of Virgins, the Lord of heaven and earth shalt thou conceive and bear in virginity, the savior of man; thou art become the gate of heaven and redressor of wrongs. (Verse I)
Allcluya psallat
Sancta Maria
Holy Mary, in this world there has arisen none like you among women. Blooming like the rose, fragrant as the lily, pray for us, holy Mother of God.
Estampie
Qui rreavit coclum
He, who hath created heaven, is born in a stable, the King of glory.
Joseph thatches a shelter, Mary swaddles the Child and lays Him in a manger.
Among the animals, they place the joy of the world, sweeter than all things.
Mary suckles the child, she kisses the little one, and adores the Lord.
Mary, ask the child to give us joy in everlasting glory.
For eternity, forever and always, give us His joy.
Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century
Virgo Rosa Virginum--Carols of the Virgin Hail, Mary, full of grace, mother in virginity. Ave Maria, gracia Dei plena.
Eccc Ancilla Dominc--Carols of the Annunciation Nowell, this is the salutation of the angel, Gabriel Marvel not Joseph, on Mary mild; forsake her not tho' she be with child.
In Die Nativitas--Carols of the Nativity Quid pctis, o fili Mater dulcissima baba. Make we joy now in this fest, in quo Christus natus cst; Eya.
INTERMISSION
Gloria in Excelsis Deo--Carols of the Shepherds Nowell: Out of your sleep arise and wake . . . There is no rose of such virtue as is the rose that bare Jesu.
Regis Saba Vcnient--Carols of the Three Kings
Illuminarc, Jerusalem, the Duke appeareth in Bethlehem. Almighty Jesu, King of bliss, assumpsit carnem virginis.
Hostis Hcrodis Impie--Carols of Herod and the Innocents Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child, By by, lully lullay. Worship we this holy day, that all innocents for us pray.
Projacc--Yuletide Carols
Nowell: Dicu vous garde, beau sire, tidings I you bring . . Green grow'th the holly . . .
Late Sixteenth and Seventeenth Century (Scots airs)
All sons of Adam rise up with me, go love the blissed Trinitie.
I come from hevin heich to tell the best nowells that e'er befell.
Now blessed be thou, Christ Jesu . . .
Come, my Children dere, drau neir me, to my love when that I sing . . .
Notes
This concert represents the music of British composers and possibly a few compositions of French origin from the fourteenth through seventeenth centuries. With the exception of three pieces, all of the music in this program are by anonymous composers. Sancta Maria of Part I was composed by John Dunstable (ca. 13701453). Dunstable was musician to the Duke of Bedford during the reigns of Henry V and VI and became wellknown throughout the continent. In Part II, Quid petis, o fili was composed by Pygott (born ca. 1485), and "Green grow'th the holly" was composed by Henry VIII (14911547). Both these compositions are represented in an early Tudor songbook, the chief surviving monument of secular music at the Court of Henry VIII.
Part I spans the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Angclus ad virginum makes a bridge between the first four compositions of the thirteenth century and the last four of the fourteenth century. The original tune of Angclus dates from circa 1200. A second part was added later in the thirteenth century, and the threepart version appeared around 1360. It is assumed that this tune is the one referred to in Chaucer's "Miller's Tale." Qui creavit, the last tune in Part I, is actually dated around 1425, from the nunnery of St. Mary, Chester. Though it is notated as a singleline, the Ensemble will "faburden" the tune, a method of improvising parallel sixthchord harmonies commonly in use in England in the early fifteenth century.
Part II consists of carols and Latin cantilenae of the midfifteenth century and come from four manuscripts: the Trinity Roll, the Seldon MS, the Egerton MS, and the Ritson MS. These two and threepart carols were likely performed by skilled ecclesiastical musicians who wrote and sang them during their long struggle with the survival of paganism. These nonliturgical compositions may have been introduced in ecclesiastical, civic, or courtly processions. The pagan "carole" has its origin as a dance song. Therefore, its ecclesiastical association with physical movement in the form of processions is likely. "Nowell, this is the salutation of the angel Gabriel" is a monophonic tune and probably represents one of the few of a vast body of popular tunes now lost.
The compositions in Part III are mainly from Scots manuscripts of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. "All sons of Adam" (A Christmas medley) is from the late sixteenth century. "Now blessed be thou" is a traditional English tune with text by Miles Coverdale (14871568), who is noted for his English translation of the Bible used during the reign of Henry VIII. The airs of folksongs are from an anony?mous Scots manuscript written around 1680.
Ensemble for Early Music
The Ensemble for Early Music was organized in 1974 by members of the former New York Pro Musica Antiqua. Their aim was to continue and build upon the per?formance standard of medieval and renaissance music established by the Pro Musica, on a comprehensive collection of early instruments and with authoritative scholarly assistance. Each of the five young Ensemble members is an expert performer of early music, assisted by an advisory board of musicologists with George Houle as current chairman.
In the twoandhalf years of its existence, the Ensemble has already made an extraordinary contribution to early music scholarship and performance. Based in New York, it is currently in residence at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, each season offering a series of concerts and early music events, and presenting each holiday season the program we hear tonight, at both the Cathedral and at the Cloisters of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. They have also performed at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall and Hunter College, and expanded the audience for early music through innovative programming on radio and television. During the summer of 1976 the Ensemble was in residence at the Early Music Institute of the Festival Society in Indianapolis, participating in concerts, master classes, and a national radio broadcast.
COMING EVENTS
Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Ballet .... Thursday, Friday, Saturday The Pittsburgh Ballet........December IS, 16, 17
Marcel Marceau, Pantomimist.......Saturday & Sunday
January 7 & 8
Jose Molina Bailes Espanoles......Wednesday, January 11
Rossini's Barber oj Seville .... ... Sunday, January IS
Canadian Opera Company
Hungarian Folk Ballet........Tuesday, January 17
Rudolf Serkin, Pianist........Wednesday, January 18
Camerata Orchestra of SalzburgJanigro .... Friday, January 20
Leontyne Price, Soprano.......Wednesday, January 25
French String Trio & Michel Debost, Flutist . . . Friday, February 3
Eliot Feld Ballet.......Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
February 20, 21, 22
Carlos Montoya, Guitarist.......Thursday, February 23
Aleksander Slobodyanik, Pianist......Saturday, February 25
Thovil, Sri Lanka..........Wednesday, March 1
Baltimore Symphony OrchestraComissiona . . . Sunday, March 19 Dvorak: Scherzo Capriccioso; Khachaturian: Violin Concerto (Albert Markov, soloist); Kodaly: Hary Janos Suite
Nikolais Dance Theatre.......Tuesday & Wednesday
March 21 & 22
KyungWha Chung, Violinist.......Thursday, March 23
Orpheus Chamber EnsembleFestival Chorus . . . Saturday, March 25 Okinawan Dancers..........Tuesday, March 28
Amadeus String Quartet.........Thursday, April 6
Mozart: Quartet in Bflat, K. 458 ("The Hunt"); Britten: Quartet No. 2; Dvorak: Quartet in F, Op. 96 ("American")
Bavarian Symphony OrchestraKubelik.....Saturday, April 8
Mahler: Symphony No. 9 in D major
Eightyfifth Annual May Festival
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, April 27, 28, 29, 30
The Philadelphia Orchestra and University Choral Union Eugene Ormandy, Conductor; Robert Shaw, Guest Conductor
Programs and artists announced in January; series ticket orders accepted beginning January 9
UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY
Burton Memorial Tower, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 Phones: 6653717, 7642538