Past Music Series Concerts
Choral Evensong for Palm Sunday
The offering of Choral Evensong on the first Sunday of the month is an important and treasured part of the liturgical life of this cathedral—indeed, for some the liturgy is part of Saint Mark's very identity as a cathedral of the Anglican tradition. It will be offered from the closed cathedral nave via livestream on Sunday, April 5. An octet of singers drawn from the Evensong Choir (and remaining at least six feet apart at all times) will sing Henry Purcell's timely setting of Psalm 102, v. 1: "Hear my prayer, O Lord;" a setting of the Magnificat and Nunc dimittis by Healey Willan; and C. Hubert H. Parry's beloved setting of Henry Vaughan's hymn, "My soul, there is a country far beyond the stars."
All-Bach On The Flentrop
ALEX WEIMANN, ORGANIST
Alexander Weimann, Music Director of the Seattle Baroque Orchestra, is also a renowned organist. Weimann will select from the great canon of Bach’s famous works.
This concert will likely be livestreamed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, although no decision has officially been made yet.
The Pageant of the Nativity
The Choir School choristers, Cathedral Evensong Choir, and young children of Saint Mark’s join forces in this dramatic telling of the nativity story. Costumes of cathedral finery, dramatic lighting within cathedral architecture, and over fifty choristers accompanied by chamber orchestra and the Flentrop organ will bring the story of the birth of Christ to life. Learn more and see video of previous years' pageants here.
Concert on the Flentrop
CHRISTOPHER HOULIHAN, ORGANIST
Christopher Houlihan is widely acknowledged as one of the brightest stars in the new generation of organists, praised by the media as gifted (New York Times), dazzling (Wall Street Journal), and eloquent (Los Angeles Times). The first program on the 2019-20 Music Series includes Buxtehude's Praeludium in G minor, Schumann's Four Sketches, and selections from various Vierne symphonies.
Organ Plus
ZACH HEMENWAY, ORGANIST; DANIELLE SAMPSON, SOPRANO
Featuring the Fritts Organ in Thomsen Chapel
Zach Hemenway is currently Director of Music of Epiphany Parish, Seattle; Danielle Sampson is an avid performer of Baroque music. Together these Seattle locals will perform a program of music by composers Hildegard von Bingen, Buxtehude, Rameau, Bach, and more.
Messiaen's La Nativité
JOSEPH ADAM, ORGANIST
Here is a rare opportunity to hear this truly profound Christmas music! In 2018, Saint Mark’s presented Messiaen’s Christmas cycle for piano, Vingt Regards sur l’enfant Jesus. This year we present his Christmas cycle for organ, La Nativité du Seigneur. Joseph Adam is Director of Music and Organist of Saint James Cathedral, Seattle, and Resident Organist of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra.
The Play Of Daniel
THE BOSTON CAMERATA AND THE SAINT MARK'S CHOIR SCHOOL
The fiery prophecies of Daniel, young captive in corrupt Babylon, ring forth in this stunning production by Anne Azéma. Brought to you by a collaboration among Early Music Seattle, The Boston Camerata, and Saint Mark’s Cathedral, the greatest musical play from the French Middle Ages dramatically tells a story of justice and of truth spoken to power. The Boston Camerata is joined by the Saint Mark’s Choir School, directed by Rebekah Gilmore.
Vehicles for Variation
BELOVED CHACONNES FOR STRING AND ORGAN
Everyone loves a Chaconne! A Chaconne is a type of musical composition used as a vehicle for variation on a repeated short harmonic progression. Its appeal lies in the tension between hypnotic repetition and ever-evolving variation. This program will include a Chaconne for organ by Buxtehude, for string quartet by Britten, for violin and organ by Vitali, and J. S. Bach’s famous Chaconne in D minor for solo violin. Jennifer Caine Provine, violin; Emilie Choi, violin; Alex Grimes, viola; Page Smith, cello; and Michael Kleinschmidt, organ.
CANCELLED: Tchaikovsky’s Divine Liturgy
CAPPELLA ROMANA with THE PACIFIC YOUTH CHOIR
Tchaikovsky’s singular artistic voice in his Liturgy broke open the floodgates of creativity in Russian Orthodox choral music, including music for young singers. Grand and majestic sections of the Divine Liturgy beautifully contrast with its intimate moments of devotion and awe. Cappella Romana is joined by over 100 singers from Pacific Youth Choir, basso profundo Glenn Miller, and guest conductor Benedict Sheehan.
This event has been cancelled.
POSTPONED:
Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time
Monthly Choral Evensong at Saint Mark’s will be extended to include Olivier Messiaen’s sublime Quatuor pour la fin du Temps. Composed in 1941 while captive in a Nazi prisoner of war camp, it considered to be one of the great masterpieces of the 20th century and a deeply spiritual work contemplating faith, time, and love. Luke Fitzpatrick, violin; Rose Bellini, cello; James Falzone, clarinet; Jesse Myers, piano.
POSTPONED: The Cathedral Trio
Formed in 2007, this trio of Resident Artists performs a perfect balance of beloved traditional idioms and engaging new music. The program will feature Japanese Songs, by Ian Krouse; 16th Century Italian Lute Pieces, by Ferenc Molinaro; and Trios by Leo Smit and Seymour Barab, among others. Naomi Kato, harp; Brian Fairbanks, flute; and Joyce Ramee, viola.
This event has been postponed.