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Press Release

Cantemus Concerts Illuminate “Star-Made Shadows”

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(Oct. 29, 2019) —Music by the prolific Baroque master Antonio Vivaldi highlights this year’s holiday “Star-Made Shadows” concerts by the Cantemus Chamber Chorus, under the direction of Jane Ring Frank, to be performed December 7 in Beverly, December 8 in Newburyport, and December 15 in Swampscott. The core of the concerts is Vivaldi’s Magnificat in G minor, a setting of the Canticle of Mary for chorus, soloists, strings and organ that offered the composer the opportunity to explore a wide range of musical expression across its nine movements. Also on the program is his forceful setting of Psalm 116, Laudate Dominum, a work Jane Ring Frank describes as “a little but mighty piece of music.” A string quartet of two violins, viola and cello will accompany the chorus, joined by guest artists Alecia Batson and Heather Gallagher, sopranos, and bass Jeremy Satchell.

More contemporary works on the program include Peter Anglea’s jaunty Jubilate Deo and Phil Mattson’s playful re-imagining of some familiar carols of the season. Two pieces by the young Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo, a Cantemus favorite, convey his sweeping vision: Tundra and Across the Vast Eternal Sky. Finally, the chorus offers Morten Lauridsen’s haunting, deeply moving setting of James Agee’s poem Sure on This Shining Night, which has become an audience favorite over the years.

“Star-Made Shadows” will be performed Saturday, December 7, at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Beverly; December 8 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Newburyport; and December 15 at First Church Swampscott, in Swampscott. Tickets are available at the following outlets: A New Leaf in Beverly, The Bookshop of Beverly Farms, Nazir’s Fine Jewelry in Wenham, Port Plums in Newburyport and Pak Mail in Newburyport, and Zumi’s in Ipswich. Tickets may also be purchased on the Cantemus website, www.cantemus.org, or at the door. Regular admissions is $25, senior admission is $20. Students 21 and under are admitted free.

Cantemus gratefully acknowledges funding support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and Local Cultural Councils of Beverly, Ipswich and Newburyport. Cantemus is a member of Chorus America, and of the Greater Boston Choral Consortium, a cooperative association of diverse choral groups in Boston and the surrounding area.

Cantemus’ members come from over 20 communities on the North Shore, Boston, Cambridge and New Hampshire: Amesbury: Gary Lubarsky, Ron Pressler. Beverly: Dick Church, Scott Hufford, Paul Kelly, Karen Kepler, Steve Naylor, Richard Salandrea, Rachel Small. Cambridge: Artistic Director Jane Ring Frank. Essex: Betsy Vicksell. Georgetown: Patty Clark. Gloucester: Ed Mowrey. Hamilton: Donna Gale, Marcy Homer, Pam Morris, Peggy Russell, Alison Thompson. Haverhill: Mern Ebinger, Doug Guy. Ipswich: Gary Freeman, Anne Maguire, Stephen Miles, Chris Reif, Sr. Pat Rolinger. Lynnfield: Priscilla March, Melanie Richard. Manchester-by-the-Sea: Isabella Bates. Marblehead: Debra Basile, David Rosen, Tanya Tupper. Melrose: Accompanist Jeffrey Mead. Newburyport: Richard Blumenscheid, Claire Cayot, Mark Robbins. Peabody: Marjorie Short. Rockport: Brittany Betts. Roslindale: Deborah Lemont. Wenham: Jeremy Satchell. West Newbury: Jamie Cabot, Michael Fosburg, Melissa Lugo, Susan Nash. Winchester: Carol Weir, Jonathan Goodell. Durham, NH: Sydney van Asselt.

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For more information contact:
Douglas Guy, Press Liaison
978-994-4410 

CANTEMUS
P.O. Box 784
Ipswich, MA 01938
 
Our name is pronounced:
“Can-TAME-us”
(Latin for “Let us sing”)
 
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