Event at Christ Episcopal Church

Joint Benefit Recital by Musica Spei and Dr. Mariko Morita, Christ Church Music Director & Organist
Musica Spei (Music of Hope) is a Rochester-based a cappella choral group specializing in rarely-performed, sacred choral masterworks of the medieval and renaissance periods. The concert on June 3 will feature the world premiere performance of Veni Sancte Spiritus (Come Holy Spirit), a commissioned work for unaccompanied choir by Rochester native Carson Cooman. Music from nine centuries fills out this diverse and adventurous concert. Follow the Veni Sancte Spritus "Sequence" text on an epic historical journey right up to the present day as it is set to music by composers as varied in epoch and style as Dufay, Byrd, Mozart, Janacek, and Lauridsen. Rehearsing and performing unaccompanied and without a conductor, the group develops its interpretations in a collaborative fashion, communicating and interacting in a manner not unlike the members of a jazz or chamber music ensemble. Christ Church organist Mariko Morita joins Musica Spei for several of the pieces, and will present her own organ variations on the Gregorian chant melody. Admission is free, but free-will donations are encouraged. All monies raised will be shared equally between Musica Spei and Dr. Morita, who will donate her portion to support the Christ Church choir.