Collectio Musicorum - Upcoming Performances

On Friday, October 18th, Collectio Musicorum will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a concert featuring music from the Carmina Burana manuscript.  This 13th century manuscript is a compilation of works in Latin and German that were popular among wandering scholars and monks, and range from the very pious to the very ribald.  Although the musical notation in the manuscript is not decipherable, around one quarter of the texts also appear in other sources, and it is from these works that the concert program is assembled.  Some of the named authors to be heard are Philip the Chancellor, whose place in the history of music is paramount; Gottried of St. Victor, from the famous monastery which was the center of Parisian theology; and Walter of Chatillon, author of an epic poem on Alexander the Great and vindictive lover.  The incredible stories behind the music we will perform will make this a night to remember.  Also included are a piece from the manuscript's passion play and drinking songs in several languages.  

 Music from English Court Masques

 Date: Friday, April 12, 2024

Time: 8 pm, followed by a reception 

Location: Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art 338 Lighthouse Avenue Staten Island, NY 10306 Bus: 54, 74, and 84 buses and the #15 SIM express bus 

Tickets: $15 Purchase online at https://www.tibetanmuseum.org/event-details/music-from-englishcourt-masques-with-collectio-musicorum OR at the door 

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, March 6, 2024 

The English Court Masque was the most extravagant theatrical event of its time. Evolving during the 16th century, it reached its climax in productions at the court of King James I and his successors in the 17th century. Wildly elaborate and focusing on praising the monarch, these theatrical extravaganzas featured both professional and amateur performers, and combined florid poetry and music with sumptuous scenery and costumes. 

It is not possible to resurrect masques in the 21st century; too much source material has disappeared. However, enough music has survived to present a concert of selections from several of them, and that is what Collectio Musicorum, under the direction of its artistic director Jeff S. Dailey, will do on Friday, April 12th. Dr. Dailey, joined by tenor Alex Longnecker, gambist Patricia Ann Neely, and lutenist Christopher Morrongiello, will perform highlights from four 17th -century masques — Lord Hay’s Masque, The Masque of Beauty, The Masque of Queens, and The Masque of Oberon. 

The Jacques Marchais Museum provides a suitably exotic setting for this music. Constructed in 1947 to imitate a Himalayan temple, it will be illuminated by candlelight to evoke the luxurious surrounding of the Stuart court. In her 2022 book, The Buddha and the Bard, author Lauren Shufran draws connections between Buddhist teachings and Shakespeare’s plays. While she acknowledges that Shakespeare did not reference Buddhist texts in his works, she points out that he drew upon problems of the human condition, and that the Buddha did the same. This concert, unlike Collectio Musicorum’s last performances, will not contain texts by Shakespeare, but will focus, instead, on lyrics by his younger colleague, Ben Jonson, who wrote the poem eulogizing Shakespeare in the First Folio. Jonson, the principal masque writer of the early 17th century, was also a convicted murderer, who avoided hanging through a legal technicality. He was also a prolific annotator of the human condition. The music for these masques is by a variety of composers, including Robert Johnson, Thomas Campion (who also wrote some of the texts), Thomas Lupo, and Alfonso Ferrabosco. 

Dr. Jeff S. Dailey, a longtime friend of the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art, has been displaying his collection of Himalayan musical objects at the Museum since 2021. In April 2024, part of his collection will be exchanged with new objects and instruments never before seen by the public. This performance celebrates this collection update. Collectio Musicorum celebrates 10 years of concerts this year, and is pleased to return to Staten Island, the location of its first performance. About the Ensemble Collectio Musicorum, Inc. is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt corporation whose mission is to present the best possible performances of music from the earliest of times. Founded by Dr. Jeff S. Dailey, it presents concerts and workshops focusing on music that is not heard anywhere else. Collectio Musicorum is a member of Early Music America and the New York Opera Alliance. Further details may be found here: https://collectio-musicorum.blogspot.com/ Music 

Director Jeff Dailey studied musicology and theatre history at New York University where he received his PhD in 2002. He is an active instrumentalist, musicologist, conductor, and stage director. His publications include studies of Medieval and Renaissance music and theatre, Eugene O’Neill, Beowulf, Donizetti, and Gilbert and Sullivan. He has been president of the Greater New York Chapter of the American Musicological Society since 2008. Now retired as a college professor and administrator, Dr. Dailey devotes his time to researching the musical cultures of the Himalayas. 

For further information or to set up an interview: Call (917) 796–6112 or Email: drjsdailey@aol.com Website: https://collectio-musicorum-upcoming.blogspot.com/ ### Media services provided by: Gotham Early Music Scene, Inc. 340 Riverside Drive # 1-A, New York, NY 10025 www.gemsny.org

Four hundred years ago, in 1623, a book was published in London that changed the course of history.  Shakespeare’s First Folio, published seven years after his death, contains many plays that would have been lost if this book never appeared. 

In this, the quadricentennial anniversary of what has been called the world’s “most influential book,” Collectio Musicorum will perform music from the First Folio, from plays that were first published there and which would have been lost forever if this book had never appeared.

Songs and dances from As You Like It, Macbeth, The Tempest, and other plays are on the program.   The performers include Chad Kranak, Alex Longnecker, Christopher Preston Thompson, singers; Christopher Morrongiello, lute; Patricia Neely, viola da gamba; Jeff Dailey, recorder. 

The concert will feature some music from manuscripts in the Drexel Collection of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, which is right across the street.  Joseph Drexel donated his rare collection of 17th century English Music to the precursor of the NYPL in the 19th century.  New York City is indeed a rich resource for the study of Shakespeare.  There are more copies of the First Folio here (6 in the NYPL, 2 in the Morgan Library) than in London (which only has 5).

The concert will take place on Friday, October 27^th at 8 PM at Good Shepherd-Faith Presbyterian Church, 152 West 66th Street, New York, NY 10023.  It is easily accessible to the #1 subway.  Admission is free. 

Highlights from the concert will be performed on Thursday, October 26^th at St. Malachy’s Chapel, 239 West 49^th Street in Manhattan at 1:15.  This concert is also free. 

Edipo Tiranno--Free Performance on May 20, 2022 

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:

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 18^th at 8 PM.  Admission is Free.

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.

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

On September 15th, we present Sounds of the Reformation, in tribute to the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.

On October 20th, we present Primarily Pipelare, featuring music by Mattheus Pipelare, a contemporary of Josquin.  This concert is part of the Early Music Foundation's celebration of Franco-Netherlandish music.

Details may be found on this website's Announcements page.

Richard Wagner was a big fan of the Middle Ages.  Almost all of his operas are based on medieval legends or history.  He wrote operas about two medieval composers--Tannhäuser and Hans Sachs--and referred to others in his works.

On Friday, May 5th, the musicians of Collectio Musicorum will present a concert of music associated with Wagner's operas.  You will hear music by Tannhäuser, Wolfram von Eschenbach, Walther von der Vogelweide, Hans Sachs, and others. We will perform the original Flying Dutchman ballad and the ballad that gave Wagner the idea for an opera on the Tannhäuser legend, as well as music from the time of Rienzi and pieces from the monastery that inspired Parsifal.  

The concert will be held at Christ and St. Stephen's Church,  122 W 69th St, New York, NY 10023, at 8 PM.  Admission is free. 

We will repeat the program at a free fringe concert at the Boston Early Music Festival on Friday, June 16th, at noon.  It will take place at the Goethe-Institut Boston, 170 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02116.

The musicians of Collectio Musicorum will perform a free concert of music from medieval Germany on Friday, April 15th at 8 PM at Christ and St. Stephen's Church.

Featured will be music by several Minnersinger, including songs by the historical Tannhaueser, as well as the ballad on which Richard Wagner based his opera.  Also on the program will be music by the German nun and mystic Hildegard of Bingen, the Austrian composer known only as The Monk of Salzburg, the composer/writer/politician Oswald von Wolkenstein, and selections from the Carmina Burana manuscript.

The poems from the 13th century manuscript Carmina Burana are best known from Carl Orff's 20th century cantata.  We will perform several selections from this collection, including some that were later set to music by Orff.  The finale of the program will be the expansive sequence"Olim Sudor Herculis," a remarkably complex piece of music telling of the labors of Hercules.

The church is located at 120 West 69th Street, between Columbus Avenue and Broadway.  It is just a few blocks from the 72nd Street subway station on the B, C, 1, 2, or 3 trains.   The concert is free.

Join us for a concert of choral music by some of the city's best vocal artists.  The Festival Choir, under the direction of Dr. Jeff Dailey, will give a free concert on Sunday, April 3rd at 7 PM at Christ and St. Stephen's Church, 120 West 69th Street.  Featured on the program are pieces by the Renaissance composers Matteus Pipelare and Josquin des Prez, along with selections from The Martyr of Antioch by Arthur Sullivan and choral works by Ronald Cross and Arnold Rosner.  Music by Pipelare is rarely heard today, and he will be represented on the program by his majestic "St. John Credo," an elaborate contrapunctal masterpiece.

Join the musicians of Collectio Musicorum for a concert of the Music of Medieval Spain.  It will take place at the Center for Remembering and Sharing, 123 Fourth Avenue, New York, NY 10003, just south of Union Square.  Admission is free.  It starts at 8 PM.

The concert will feature music from across the Iberian peninsula.  On the program are selections from several important manuscripts--the Llibre Vermell, the Las Huelgas Codex, and the Cantigas de Santa Maria.  Also included will be music by King Denis of Portugal and the Cantigas d'Amigo of Martim Codax, a cycle of songs about love and the sea.  It will also be a rare opportunity to hear Mozarabic chant performed live.

Performers include singers Patrick Fennig, Martin Coyle, and Richard Lippold, accompanied by artistic director Jeff Dailey,

The Center for Remembering and Sharing is accessible to the N, R, Q, 4, 5, 6 trains.  For a map, go to http://crsny.org/wp/ and scroll down.

This concert is part of the NEW YORK EARLY MUSIC CELEBRATION 2015: El Nuevo Mundo,
a Service Project of the EARLY MUSIC FOUNDATION.  For details, go to www.NYEMC.org.

The musicians of Collectio will be performing an exciting program of early polyphonic music on Friday, April 10th, at 8 PM.  It will take place at Christ and St. Stephen's Church--122 West 69th Street.  For directions, look at the church's website--http://www.csschurch.org/contact-us/map/.
Admission is free.

Polyphony--the combining of multiple musical lines--has been called the major contribution of western culture to music.  While its origins are shouded in mystery, it can be traced back to the early middle ages.  Our concert will present pieces that are often mentioned in textbooks, but rarely performed.  Among the pieces featured will be pieces by Leoninus and Chypre, instrumental dances from England, motets from the Bamberg Codex, and a complete performance of the Tournai Mass--the earliest surviving polyphonic setting of the ordinary.