The Classics concert encompasses great music, from masterworks with orchestra to small a cappella choral music gems. Recent performances include Orff's Carmina burana, Haydn Mass in Time of War, and Brahms' Requiem.

 

This year's concert will feature two great masterworks in the choral repertoire: Faure Requiem and Bernstein Chichester Psalms, both with instrumental accompaniment.

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The Faure Requiem in D Minor, Op. 48 was completed in 1900. Faure described his Requiem as a "lullaby of death." It is characterized by a gentle approach to parts of the traditional Requiem mass text paired with beautiful lyrical melodies.

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The Chichester Psalms is a three-movement work. Each movement contains one complete Psalm plus excerpts from another paired Psalm. The composition juxtaposes vocal part writing most commonly associated with Church music with the Judaic liturgical tradition. The music reflects Bernstein's joyful, rhythmic, energetic writing.