A Human Requiem

3pm Sunday 16th October

Our Lady of Victories, Camberwell

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A Human Requiem was composed from 2015 to 2019 by long-time choir member Vaughan McAlley. Taking its words from those selected from the Bible by Brahms for his monumental A German Requiem, A Human Requiem is a large-scale piece for a cappella choir that addresses human themes of sorrow, renewal, fragility, fear, futility, consolation, anxiety, triumph, peace, hope, and joy. It is accompanied by two of the pieces (both Ensemble Gombert favourites) to which A Human Requiem pays tribute.

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Josquin Desprez: Praeter rerum seriem

Heinrich Schütz: Selig sind die Toten

Vaughan McAlley: A Human Requiem

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Tallis & Byrd

Monday 7th November 2022

7.30pm Elizabeth Murdoch Hall

Works from undisputed masters of Late Renaissance music in England.

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Thomas Tallis and his pupil William Byrd are the undisputed masters of Late Renaissance music in England. Though Masters of the Chapel Royal, both remained devout Roman Catholics throughout their lives.

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This program culminates in the most famous English choral work of the sixteenth century, Tallis’s forty-voice setting of Spem in alium nunquam habui. While the date and occasion of the motet’s composition remain a mystery, dates from 1556 to 1573 have been conjectured, along with possible connections with the Duke of Norfolk or the Earl of Arundel.

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The technical mastery and architectural brilliance it exhibits have never been in doubt. This is one of music’s most dazzling masterpieces.

Ensemble Gombert is joined by friends and former members to present this work as it was originally intended.

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Thomas Tallis (c.1505–1585)        Te lucis ante terminum (2 settings)                                                                          In jejunio et fletu                                                

                                                       Derelinquat impius                                            

                                                       Loquebantur variis linguis                                 

William Byrd (c.1540–1623)          Attollite portas

                                                       Ne irascaris

                                                       Nunc scio vere

                                                       Tu es Petrus

                                                       Quomodo cantabimus                        

Thomas Tallis  (c.1505–1585)       Spem in alium nunquam habui              

Duruflé Requiem

Wednesday 2nd November 2022

7.30pm All Saints East St Kilda