History of Carmina
CARMINA, (Latin for “poetry” or “songs”) is a chamber choir devoted to exploring the diverse musical styles of the Middles Ages through the Baroque. The group, now in its tenth season, gave its first performance in the spring of 1998 at the Spotlight on the Arts Festival in Fairfax, Virginia. Since then, Carmina has continued to perform frequently in the Washington area, making appearances at such venues as the National Cathedral, Anderson House, and the German Embassy. Carmina often collaborates with period instrument ensembles and has presented concerts jointly with Armonia Nova, the Washington Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble, The Orchestra of the Seventeenth Century, Ensemble Gaudior, the Chesapeake Viol Consort, and The Bach Sinfonia. Carmina has been praised both by the Washington Post and the Baltimore Sun, which noted the group’s “gorgeous tonal balance.” In 2002, Washingtonian magazine included Carmina in its list of “Good arts groups you might not know about.” The same year Carmina won a special grant for new and emerging artistic organizations from the Virginia Commission for the Arts. Since 2004 Carmina has regularly presented concerts as part of the Washington Early Music Festival. Last May, invited by the Washington Arts Group to take part in its 2007 international convocation, Carmina sang in a showcase performance, An Evening of Brillance, Past and Present, which also featured several internationally-known artists and ensembles. Carmina's two CDs, A Carmina Sampler and The Son of Getron, were released last year.
Illuminare, formed in the fall of 2006 as the Carmina Women’s Ensemble, focuses on early vocal repertoire (Medieval through Baroque) composed or arranged for women’s voices. Our name symbolizes our efforts to “illuminate” the glorious music of the past, so rarely performed today. Just as the beautiful initial letters (called “illuminations”) decorated medieval manuscripts, we hope that our performances will enhance and enrich the lives of those who listen to us.
Carmina on CD
Click here for ordering information for the newly available Carmina CDs, A Carmina Sampler and Son of Getron.
About the Singers
Carmina's singers hail from all over the Washington metro area and from as far away as Baltimore and Leesburg. All singers have a strong interest and/or expertise in early music.
Reviews
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"Carmina, a 15-voice chamber chorus conducted by Vera Kochanowsky, has come together as an ensemble, has honed its blend, perfected its pianissimo, and found ways to make complicated polyphonic textures sound transparent." - The Washington Post
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"For dyed-in-the-wool Anglophiles and lovers of sacred choral music, it was a program to die for.... Most admirable about Carmina's choral approach is the gorgeous tonal balance it achieved.... ...a howling success.... Carmina is led by harpsichordist Vera Kochanowsky who, in addition to knowing what it takes to put Renaissance choral music across, is a sensation at the keyboard." - The Baltimore Sun
Some of Our Past Concerts
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"A Star of Light" - Illuminare’s first solo program in the stunningly beautiful sanctuary of St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral. Surrounded by the painted images of the saints, listeners found themselves transported to an earlier time when music was seen as a vehicle for contemplation and a path toward an elevated state of understanding. Featured was be the Mass of Tournai, the oldest complete polyphonic setting of the Ordinary of the Mass. Also included on the program were medieval carols, conductus, motets and songs from the Piae cantiones, as well as a special work in honor of St. Nicholas. (December 2, 2007)
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"Magnificat & Masterworks" - Carmina began our tenth season with an exciting collaboration with two other fine Washington area early music ensembles, the Washington Kantorei and the Bach Sinfonia, a period-instrument orchestra. Five outstanding soloists joined us for our featured major work, Johann Sebastian Bach’s Magnificat. Other works included Monteverdi's Beatus Vir, Sestina's Lagrime d’amante, selections from Telemann's New Year’s cantatas, and Works by Pärt, Rautavaara, and Mauersberger. (September 30, 2007)
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Washington Early Music Festival Benefit Concert, "Seven & Seven" - Carmina joined with six other professional early music ensembles in a single concert session to perform favorite music from previous festival themes – England, Spain & and New World, and Italy, to benefit the upcoming June 2008 festival. Other performers included Armonia Nova, Ensemble Gaudior, Hesperus, Modern Musick, Organist Keith Reas, and the Suspicious Cheese Lords. (July 7, 2007)
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"Cori spezzati: Renaissance Polychoral Music" - For the exciting finale of the 2006-2007 season, Carmina joined forces with the Capitol Hill Chorale and a group of talented period instrumentalists to present works for multiple choirs. “Cori spezzati,” an Italian term meaning “broken choirs,” emerged as an influential style in sixteenth century Italy, and was initially cultivated by composers such as Willaert and Gabrieli. The style’s popularity soon spread outside of Italy. This program featured the Magnificat for 3 choirs (SWV 468) by Heinrich Schütz, Gabrieli’s most famous pupil. (June 2 & 3, 2007)
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"Tears and Lamentations" - In St. Veronica’s spacious and acoustically live sanctuary, Carmina presented a program devoted to Lenten themes. Included in this program were Crecquillon’s masterful Lamentationes Jeremiae for 5 voices, as well as works by Josquin, Mouton, and others. The Carmina women’s ensemble, Illuminare, performed the dramatic Planctus Virginum by Peter Abelard (1079-1142), which tells the story of Jepthe’s tragic return home from his daughter’s point of view. (March 25, 2007)
"Nowell Sing We" - This holiday program featured some of the most beloved early melodies to grace the season, including works by Praetorius, Schütz, and J.S. Bach, medieval carols, and more. Carmina’s new women’s ensemble, Illuminare, made its first public appearance on this program! (December 13, 2006)
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"English Splendour" - The musical glories of England’s “Golden Age.” Two of the monarchs of this period, King Henry VIII and his daughter Queen Elizabeth I, warmly embraced the musical arts and supported the work of many great composers. In this concert, Carmina explored the sacred works of this period, including those of Tallis, Byrd, Sheppard, White, and others. The Mass for Four Voices by Thomas Tallis was featured. (October 14 & 15, 2006)
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"Floating Notes: Venetian Choral Music by Caldara and Lotti" - Guest conductor Philip Cave led Carmina's singers in a program of works by Venetian composers Caldara, Lotti and Monteverdi. Featured was be Caldara's Mass in G and the Miserere mei and Crucifixus a 8 by Lotti. (June 4, 2006)
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"Ce Grand Univers: Music of Orlande de Lassus" - Guest conductor Hubert Beckwith led Carmina in sampling the wide universe of the master's music, including motets (the astonishing Timor et tremor and ravishing Osculetur me for double choir), chansons both light and serious, and the intimate Mass Susanne un jour, based on the music of Lassus's well-known spiritual chanson. (April 1 & 2, 2006)
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"Rimante in Pace" - Carmina performed the choral works of Salamone Rossi and Francesco Cavalli, under the direction of guest conductor Keith Reas. A musical feast from two early-seventeenth century Northern Italian masters: The eloquent double-choir Requiem of Cavalli paired with samples of Rossi's Jewish liturgical pieces and Italian madrigals. (November 20, 2005)
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"Ensalada Español" - Carmina with Keith S. Reas, Organist. An enticing musical menu for voices and organ, including selections by Vasquez, Ximino, Flecha, Victoria, Aguilera and Bruno. This performance was a part of the second annual Washington Early Music Festival. (June 22, 2005)
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"The Lighter Side of Beethoven" presented at the German Embassy by invitation of The Beethoven Society of America in honor of Beethoven's 234th birthday. (December 16, 2004)
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"Italian Innovations," a program of innovative Italian vocal compositions from the 14th through the 17th centuries. Waterford Concert Series, Waterford, Virginia. (October 26, 2003)
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"The Son of Getron," a fully staged & costumed production of the French 12th century miracle play about St. Nicholas. Washington DC & Alexandria, Virginia.
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"The Music of Guillaume DuFay and Josquin Deprez," performed as part of the annual summer concert series at the National Cathedral, Washington DC. (July 13, 2001)