鈥淎 Fall Festival of Choral Music鈥� will be presented by the 蜜桃传媒 choirs 8 p.m. Oct. 24 at San Roque Catholic Church in Santa Barbara.
The festival will feature the 蜜桃传媒 Choir, directed by Steven R. Hodson, and Vox Lumina Women鈥檚 Chorale, directed by Laura Brinton, singing Benjamin Britten鈥檚 cantata for choir and soloists: 鈥淩ejoice in the Lamb.鈥�
鈥淩ejoice in the Lamb鈥� is a work for a small four-part choir, four soloists, and pipe organ. It is based on extracts from the poem 鈥淛ubilate Agno鈥� by Christopher Smart (1722-1771). It was commissioned for the 50th Anniversary of St. Matthew's Church, Northampton, by its vicar, Matthew Hussey, who was a well-known patron of the arts.
Smart鈥檚 poem was written during his incarceration in an asylum. He was said to suffer from "religious mania," and his work reflects his unusual, mystical beliefs.
Whether describing how flowers battle the devil, or how cats worship God by their movements, the normal Christian concepts of his day are absent. Britten revels in this material, bringing out its unsettling nature and beautiful visions.
For more information on the concert, contact the music department at (805) 565-6240.