Musicians from Collectio Musicorum will perform music by Robert Johnson, the "heretic priest," and a few other early Scottish composers at the Gotham Early Music Scene's Midtown Concert Series on Thursday, October 10th, at 1:15 PM.  Now in its 22nd year, the Midtown Concert Series concerts takes place just about every Thursday afternoon in the chapel at St. Bartholomew's Church, 50th Street and Park Avenue.

Here's the program:


Dum transisset sabbatum……………………………………………………….…..Robert Johnson
I give you a new commandment…………………………………………………....Robert Johnson
Two Scottish branles………………………………………………………...……...Thoinot Arbeau
Defiled is my name…………………………………………………………………Robert Johnson
The beggar’s meal pokes……………………………………………………..……..James VI
O eternal God…………………………………………………………….…………Robert Johnson
Scotch cap—Edinburgh Castle…………………………………………………..…John Playford
Domine in virtute tua………………………………………………………………..Robert Johnson

Collectio Musicorum
Nathaniel Adams, tenor
Amanda Sidebotton, soprano
Padraic Costello, countertenor
Jeff Dailey (director), recorder, bass
Andrew Padgett, bass, percussion

Admission is Free

Collectio Musicorum (“Collection of Music”) presents a concert of music from Scotland, dating from the twelfth through the eighteenth centuries.  It takes place at Christ and St. Stephen’s Church, 120 W 69th St, New York, NY 10023, on Friday, October 18th at 8 PM.  Admission is Free.


Much of the program is devoted to music by Robert Johnson, a priest and reformer, who was forced to flee Scotland due to his reformed religious views.  A prolific composer, his music has recently been edited by Dr. Elaine Moohan as part of the Musica Scotica series.  This music has never before been performed in the United States. 

Also among the pieces on the program are works from the twelfth century, when the northern portions of Scotland were under the control of Scandinavian kings, including one of the earliest examples of medieval polyphony, a hymn to St. Magnus the Martyr, who was martyred in 1115.  Music by Mary, Queen of Scots, and her son, James VI, will also be heard, as well as music by Roderick Morison, also called “The Blind Harper,” who lived at the turn of the eighteenth century. 

The performers include singers Amanda Sidebottom, Padraic Costello, Nate Adams, and Andrew Padgett; harpist Christopher Thompson and lutenist Christopher Morrongiello, all under the direction of Collectio Musicorum’s artistic director, Dr. Jeff S. Dailey.



          In 1850, Giuseppe Verdi began composing an opera based on a contentious play that was banned in France.  Victor Hugo’s Le Roi S’amuse featured a licentious ruler who did whatever he wanted, including seducing women and killing their husbands, and who did so without worrying about any consequences. 
          But Verdi’s opera was not complete fiction.  The title character in Rigoletto was based on a real jester, Nicolas Ferrial, called Triboulet, who lived from 1479 to 1536.  The sumptuous Renaissance setting of the opera influenced the composer, as did music from that time period.
          Collectio Musicorum (“Collection of Music”) presents highlights from Verdi’s opera alongside music of earlier composers, including Tromboncino, Monteverdi, Attaingnant, Sermisy, Gonzaga, Jannequin, Rossi, and others who are less well known, including the single surviving piece by the mysterious French composer Abel. 
          The performance takes place on Friday, May 17th at 8 PM at Christ and St. Stephen’s Church, 120 W 69th St, New York, NY 10023. Admission is free.  The church is accessible--there are no stairs between the performance space and the street.


This is a portrait of Triboulet, born Nicolas Ferrial, created c. 1550 by Jean Clouet.


Join the musicians of Collectio Musicorum on Friday, October 12th at 8 PM at Christ and St. Stephen's Church for a most unusual concert of music by composers who have one thing in common--their names start with the letter P.

Perotin, Piero, Pelissier, and Pergolesi are just some of the composers represented.  As with most Collectio concerts, the bulk of the music has never been heard in the US before.  Included on program is a short opera by Purcell based on a biblical excerpt.

The church is located at 122 W 69th St, New York, NY 10023 and the concert is free.  

The musicians of Collectio Musicorum will present a concert on Friday, May 18th at 8 PM at Christ and St. Stephen's Church on West 69th Street.  Also entitled "Dufay and Friends," it will contain some of the same music performed on the recent Staten Island concert, but will also include additional works, such as pieces by Pierre Fontaine, Robert Morton, and the sole surviving work by the elusive Magister Gulielmus.  Admission is free.

Collectio Musicorum is a participant in an upcoming exciting concert -- Dufay and Friends - Music from the Renaissance and Beyond.  It is a concert in memory of Dr. Ronald Cross, former professor of music at Wagner College and founder of that school's Collegium Musicum.  It will feature the musicians of Collectio Musicorum performing music by Dufay and Binchois.  Then, the chamber singers of Wagner College, under the direction of Dr. Roger Wesby, will sing a variety of pieces from all time periods.  After this, these groups will be joined by friends and alumni of Dr. Cross in a variety of pieces from the Renaissance.  It will conclude with some works by Josquin -- Dr. Cross' favorite composer.

The concert takes place at Eltingville Lutheran Church on Staten Island.  It is located at 300 Genesee Avenue, within walking distance of the Eltingville train station.  The concert is free and starts at 7 PM.  For further information, or to participate, call 917 796 6112.

The Dream of the Rood

Collectio Musicorum, in conjunction with The American Theatre of Actors, is presenting a theatrical version of the medieval poem The Dream of the Rood.  It will run for ten performances from March 21st through April 1st.

Composed in the 8th Century, the poem tells the story of the crucifixion from the point of view of the cross.  It is the first dream poem in English literature.

The production features medieval English music, including Sarum chant from the 11th century.

For more details, see the show's website -- Dream of the Rood

You may support this show's entry in the Innovative Theatre Awards, by voting for it.  Follow this link:  Innovative Theatre Awards--vote for this show





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