MUSIC

Transcendence

Harp, Horns and Voices of Cantilena

Allegra Martin, Director

Leave your earthly cares behind and let the sounds of harp, horns, and women’s chorus take you to a place of mystery and transformative beauty, as harpist Barbara Poeschl-Edrich joins Cantilena for its winter concert, "Transcendence," Sunday, December 5 at 3 p.m. at the U.U. Church in Arlington Center. The program features celebrated pieces for women's voices and harp that explore music’s power to transport us to another world.

Cantilena will sing Brahms' "Four Songs for Women’s Chorus, Two Horns and Harp,” distinguished by its evocative melding of thrilling horn calls and delicate harp accompaniment. The long, effervescent vocal lines paint word-pictures of mountains, forests, gardens and ancient lands. The concert also features Gustav Holst’s “Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda, Group 3”, with its four mystical texts from the ancient Vedic Sanskrit hymns of India, and two movements of Randall Thompson’s “The Place of the Blest.” Daniel Gawthrop’s beloved "Sing Me To Heaven” and “There is Sweet Music Here” celebrate the power of music as a bridge between earthly and divine worlds, while John Rutter's "Dancing Day”, a setting of traditional English carols for treble chorus and harp, recalls the wonder of the Christmas season. We invite you to join us for the perfect antidote to hectic holiday stress.