Cantemus Singers present Es Nascio – He is Born concert on Nov. 25 at St. Aidan’s in the Beach

The Cantemus Singers will perform their Es Nascio – He is Born concert on the afternoon of Sunday, Nov. 25, at St. Aidan’s Anglican Church in the Beach as a benefit for Community Centre 55’s Share A Christmas program.

The concert will feature Spanish Christmas ‘villancicos’, popular songs from the countryside that were developed by court composers in the 16^th and 17^th centuries in rhythmic, danceable carols. The Spanish Renaissance composers had a flair for melody, combining many influences in their music.

The program will include Mateo Flecha the Elder’s La Bomba/The Pump, which is a min-operetta from approximately 1540 that combines villancicos, popular songs and religious works around a Christmas theme. Also, there will be a selection of Catalan carols and motets; Joan Brudieu’s Seven Joys of Mary; Tomas Luis de Victoria’s mass and motet for Christmas morning – O Magnum Mysterium; and Guerrero’s motet for six voices Pastores Loquebantur.

Sunday’s concert benefits Community Centre 55’s Share A Christmas program which helps provide holiday food hampers and toys to more than 900 families in need in the east Toronto area.

The concert begins at 3 p.m., and St. Aidan’s is located at Queen Street East and Silver Birch Avenue. Tickets are $20 for adults, and children under 12 are free. Tickets can be purchased at Community Centre 55, 97 Main St., by calling 416578-6602, or at the door at St. Aidan’s.

Cantemus Singers will also be performing Es Nascio – He is Born on Saturday, Nov.24 at the Church of the Holy Trinity, by the Eaton Centre, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are the same prices as for Sunday’s concert.

For more information, please visit www.cantemus.ca

 

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