Sweet Music, Sacred Music | Ad Libitum Chamber Choir

Come and hear Ad Libitum's tempting selection of English and French sacred choral treats.

Byrd, a 16th century Catholic working in the reformed English church, dared to publish music for Catholic liturgies at great personal risk. His masterly Mass for 5 voices was probably composed and sung in secret.

Three centuries later, Parry's I was glad was performed at King Edward VII's coronation at Westminster Abbey. The words have been sung at every British coronation since that of King Charles I. Parry's anthem was later sung at another coronation and then at two royal weddings.

Balfour Gardiner's rich, dramatic Evening Hymn is a classic of the English choral repertoire and regularly performed in Anglican churches.

Duruflé, steeped in the Gregorian plainsong tradition, completed his famous Requiem in 1947. Inspired and shaped by plainsong melody from the traditional Catholic liturgy of the Missa pro defunctis, the beautiful Requiem demonstrates influences of Tournemire and Vierne, Fauré, and the Impressionist school of Debussy and Ravel.