Dear cousin John,

 

In April this year I will be doing some concerts in the USA, in California, with a German ensemble for medieval music, called Ordo Virtutum. I have no idea if there are any Somsens living in California, but if there are, it might be interesting for them to come and see one of these concerts.

 

With my ensemble Trigon we have a number of concerts in Belgium and the Netherlands with our new programme 'Music for Assumption', which could be interesting to Somsens living in the Netherlands. 

 

In the attachments you find listings of the concerts in the USA and in the Netherlands and Belgium. Could you put these lists on the Somsen internetsite?

 

Below you find some comments on our cd that were written by different critics in Dutch and Belgian newspapers and magazines. Maybe it would be interesting to put those with the cd announcement on the internetsite.

 

Thanks! I hope you're doing well!

 

Love,

Jos Somsen

 

 

 'Trigon made a big impression last year with this programme during the Early Music Festival [Utrecht, NL] and the question on everyone's lips was – is there a CD?' (Klassieke Zaken, NL).

 'a daring interpretation of 13th century vocal music from Notre Dame in Paris... Both the Gregorian chant and the polyphonic works from the Magnus Liber Organi radiate a particular restfulness as a result of the devout interpretation' (De Standaard, B).

 'Trigon's almost improvisatory sounding approach is refreshing' (Vrije Geluiden, NL).

 'Gregorian chant and polyphony alternate, and in both styles Trigon is convincing...Expressiveness is of the first importance for Trigon... Trigon sings clearly and powerfully and its first CD is an asset to the early medieval repertory' (Tijdschrift Oude Muziek, NL).

 

 

Trigon

Ensemble

Margot Kalse Penny Turner Jos Somsen

presents its new programme

with Gregorian Chant and early polyphony from the Ecole Notre Dame

Paris, thirteenth century

In celebration of the

Feast of the Assumption

(In Assumptione Beatae Virginis Mariae)

 

In the Middle Ages, the feast of the Assumption (August 15th) was one of the most important or in religious terms 'highest' feasts of the church year.  It received special attention at the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, a central location for the development of early medieval polyphony.  Feasts in honour of the Virgin Mary were already generally popular at this time and the name of the Cathedral itself suggests the importance there of such a feast.  More specifically, the Cathedral was consecrated on the feast of the Assumption, making it an occasion of particular celebration.  Many outstanding works were written for this important feast  – amongst which no less than five pieces of organum with alleluia text.

Trigon brings this joyous feast to life with a coherent programme made up of two-voice conductus and organa and of monophonic Gregorian chant.  In keeping with medieval traditions, Trigon creates its own special atmosphere with the use of processions, the burning of candles, and an imaginative use of the different acoustics within a concert space.

 

 

Concerts Trigon The Netherlands and Belgium  2001

 

zondag 11 maart

11.00

Antwerpen (B)

Dageraadplaats

try-out

Assumption

free

zondag 18 maart

14.30

Alkmaar (NL)

Lutherse Kerk

Oudegracht 187

Netwerk Oude Muziek

Assumption

f 25,= / f 20,=

zaterdag 31 maart

20.00

Zeist (NL)

Broederkerk

Zusterplein 12

Netwerk Oude Muziek

Assumption

f 27,50 / f 25,=

reservations:

0900 344 4934

zaterdag 19 mei

20.15

Maastricht (NL)

Cellebroederskapel

Cellebroederssstraat 4

Netwerk Oude Muziek

Assumption

f 22,50 / f 20,=

reserveren:

043 350 5555

zondag 1 juli

10.00

Alden-Biesen (B)

Landscommanderij

Dag van de Oude Muziek

Assumption

BEF 300 ?

vrijdag 24 augustus

20.00 ??

Utrecht (NL)

Openingsavond Festival Oude Muziek

Dutch religious song

of the 15th century

??

31 augustus of

1 of 2 september

Utrecht (NL)

Festival Oude Muziek

Dutch religious song

of the 15th century

??

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Concerts Ordo Virtutum

 

 

Staged performances of the mystery play “Ordo Virtutum” by Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179) by ensemble Ordo Virtutum (director: Dr. Stephan Morent). Jos Somsen will be singing the role of Victoria.

 

april 22 2001, 14:00     

First Presbyterian Church Santa Monica / Los Angeles

Further information can be obtained from Pamela Rintoul

( printoul@ucla.edu )

april 24 and 26 2001

18:30    Pre-concert lecture by Dr. Stephan Morent

19:30    Performance

Founders Chapel, Founders Hall, University of San Diego

$ 12 general; $ 8 seniors, students; free with valid USD ID