A 1611 woodcut of Josquin des Prez, possibly copied from a now-lost oil painting made during his lifetime.
The Pasadena Chorale is gearing up for a rare musical treat this March with the presentation of the Pange Lingua Mass, a musical masterpiece by French composer Josquin Des Prez.
“This concert is entirely acapella. It’s the choir singing without accompanying instruments,” said Chorale founding artistic and executive director Jeffrey Bernstein.
The first performance of the Pange Lingua Mass will take place on Saturday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m. The second performance will be held on Sunday, March 5 at 2:30 p.m. Both performances will be held at the Altadena Community Church.
According to Bernstein, this concert is not religious in nature. Rather, the decision to hold it in the Altadena Community Church was based on the church’s acoustics, which are ideal for this type of performance.
Josquin is regarded as one of the most prolific, innovative, and influential musical composers of the Renaissance.
During his lifetime, he earned the reputation of being the period’s greatest composer.
“He was a complete master. He was the Bach or the John Williams of his time. Josquin composed like a lot like composers did then – a lot of settings of the mass service to be used in services. And the Pange Lingua Mass was one of the last pieces that he wrote.”
The hymn on which the mass is based is the famous Pange Lingua Gloriosi, composed around 1250, according to Bernstein.
“It was also sung in services and Josquin’s audience and choir would’ve known that melody. So Josquin wove it into the Pange Lingua Mass. And that’s why this mass is called Pange Lingua Mass because it’s based on that melody.”
“So, the mass is like a theme and variations almost. And so, at the concert, we present several other settings of that melody before we sync the Josquin, so the audience can kind of have it in their ears when they get to hear what Josquin did with it.”
Bernstein said the concert opens with a performance from student singers of the Pasadena Chorale. The students are from three Pasadena schools: Blair Middle School, Octavia Butler Middle School, and Pasadena Waldorf School.
“They will sing the Pange Lingua melody in its original forms. And the melody with new text in English written to it. And then they will sing a new composition based on that melody.”
The program will also include another setting of the Pange Lingua hymn by Los Angeles composer Paul Gibson.
“The Chorale is committed to programming music from traditionally underrepresented groups of people. So when we do new music it’s often music by composers of color or women. But we also make it an important part of what we do to program music composed by local composers. And Paul lives here in Los Angeles. So, it’s a nice fit for this program,” Bernstein remarked.
The Pasadena Chorale will also perform Josquin’s Ave Maria, and a few selections.
As per Bernstein, anyone is welcome to attend Pasadena Chorale’s upcoming concert.
“I think it’s an incredible experience for people, for people who know and love chorale music, this is a piece that is well known but not often done.”
“And to hear it live is very, very special. And if someone has never heard choir before, there’s no better way to start than by hearing this one.”
Tickets for the performance on Saturday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m. are available on a “Listen First, Then Give” basis. Tickets for the performance on Sunday, March 5 at 2:30 p.m. cost $25. Seating is limited for both performances.
The donations will “enable the Chorale to present high-quality concerts and educational programming at no cost to the public,” as per its website.
Pasadena Chorale has been singing at the Altadena Community Church regularly since its founding in 2009, as per Bernstein.
To get tickets and more information, visit: https://www.pasadenachorale.org.
