From Rose to Camerata

Breaking new ground musically, Camerata Musica conducted by Gregory Rose will be performing devotional choral works spanning more than five centuries at All Saints’ Church, Borella on Saturday, March 22 at 4 p.m. The performance will begin with Six Responsories for Holy Saturday written in the early 1580’s by Orlandus Lassus, the greatest composer of motets of the Renaissance.

This will be followed by the premiere of a new work Gregory Rose has composed for Camerata Musica 'Clarifica me Pater' with strings and clarinet solo performed by Ajit Abeysekera. In the second half, the Camerata Chamber Choir and Orchestra will perform Haydn's great oratorio 'The Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross', its first performance in Sri Lanka.

Haydn was deeply religious and his work the 'Seven Last Words' was very close to his heart. He originally composed it for a large string orchestra on commission for Holy Week in Cadiz, Spain in 1786, then wrote a string quartet version to popularize it further, followed by the oratorio version of 1797 with solo voices, Chorus and an added wind band.

Gregory Rose's new work ‘Clarifica me Pater’, uses the text sometimes called "The Prayer of Jesus" from just before the crucifixion, as related by John, Chapter 17: "Father, the hour is come. Gregory Rose writes, “I have kept the harmonies and framework of the piece deliberately simple, with the dynamic only rising at the central climax of the piece. The clarinet solo reflects the spirit of Jesus, hovering over him at his dark but peaceful hour. The work is dedicated to Camerata Musica and tonight's performers”.

This special performance of devotional music on Saturday 22nd will last around an hour and a half. Admission is free.