[Classifieds] [classifieds] Dec 19-20: new Cantus Novus ensemble Christmas concert in Falmouth and Woods Hole

[MBL Classifieds]

Here's info on our brand new group, Cantus Novus . .. 

MEDIA CONTACTS 
Dorene Sykes, 508-564-8248, dorene at dorenesykes.com 
Gisela Tiller, 508-540-2988, gtillier at cape.com 

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EVENT SUMMARY 
Event: "Noël, Noël! A French Christmas" concert 
Organization: Cantus Novus - 14-voice a cappella ensemble 
Days/times: 
Saturday, December 19 at 7:30 PM, Chapel at St. Barnabas Church, Falmouth, MA 
Sunday, December 20 at 4 PM, St. Joseph's Church, Woods Hole, MA 

Short Description: The 14-voice a cappella ensemble Cantus Novus performs traditional Christmas carols by French composers of the Renaissance. Complementing the program with instrumental music are Jan Elliott on recorder and Lisa Esperson on percussion. Admission: Free will donation Public contact information: web: www.cantusnovus-falmouth.org email: info at cantusnovus-falmouth.org phone: 508-563-1971 


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PHOTO OF CANTUS NOVUS : From left to right are Gundi Eder, Dorene Sykes, Dorothy Carlock, Chuck Bacon, Maria Moniz, John Stegeman, Margaret Sulanowska, Barbara Leighton, Sue Ernst, Christina Roberts, Joe Hackler, Pierre Tillier, and music director Gisela Tillier. (Missing from the photo are singers Adrian Green and Christine Watt.) 
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Cantus Novus performs "Noël, Noël! A French Christmas" 

Falmouth, MA - December 2, 2009 - Cantus Novus, a new 14-voice a cappella ensemble, will present its debut concert "Noël, Noël! A French Christmas" on Saturday, December 19 in Falmouth and Sunday December 20 in Woods Hole. Under the musical direction of Gisela Tillier, the group will sing traditional French carols and Christmas songs by French composers of the early to late Renaissance. 

Accompanying several of the carols are Jan Elliott on recorder and Lisa Esperson on percussion. The instrumentalists will also perform several pieces of their own, including 13th and 14th century dances by Guillaume de Machaut and Tielman Susato. 

Approximately half of the choral pieces bring to life traditional French carols arranged by British composers of the 20th century. This includes "A Maiden Most Gentle" by Andrew Carter, the rhythmic "Patapan" by Reginald Jacques, the pastoral "Gabriel's Message" by Sir David Willcocks, and "Il est né le divin enfant" by John Rutter, a carol often sung during the holidays. Mr. Rutter, the youngest and arguably the most recognized British composer on this program, founded the acclaimed Cambridge Singers in 1981 and co-edited "Carols for Choirs," a collection of anthologies popular with a cappella choruses today. 

The balance of the program recounts the story of Christmas in motets and chansons by French composers of the early to late Renaissance. Pieces range from the introspective unison plainchant "Puer Natus" to the challenging "Allon, Gay Bergères" by Guillaume Costeley which tells the story of shepherds rushing to see the Child. The three-part Magnificat by 15th century, Franco-Flemish composer Guillaume Dufay, the most renowned European composer of his time, begins with a solo Gregorian incantation that evolves to the polyphonic style of the Renaissance where parts move independently and imitate one another. 

Most members of this new ensemble have experience singing with other auditioned choral groups on and off Cape. "I'm thrilled to be working with a small group of talented singers dedicated to performing choral music drawn from many centuries and countries," advises music director Gisela Tillier. "Our shared mission is to bring to life the rich repertoire of sacred and secular a cappella music, from medieval through contemporary songs, sung in their original languages." After presenting their French Christmas program, Cantus Novus will begin rehearsals for their spring program of 18th to 20th century American anthems and folk songs. 

The debut performance of "Noël, Noël! A French Christmas" by Cantus Novus will be held on Saturday, December 19 at 7:30 PM in the chapel at St. Barnabas Church, 91 Main Street in Falmouth. The second performance will take place on Sunday, December 20 at 4 PM at St. Joseph's Church, 33 Millfield in Woods Hole. A free will donation is requested. 

Cantus Novus is an a cappella group based in Falmouth, Massachusetts on Cape Cod. Founded in 2009, the 14-voice ensemble, under the direction of Gisela Tillier, performs sacred and secular music through the ages, from medieval through contemporary. Ms. Tillier holds degrees in music education and French from institutions in Germany. She taught music and French in Germany and France, and sang for 23 years with the Gächinger Kantorei and the Stuttgart Bach Collegium. Locally, she was the choral director at Falmouth Academy from 1989 to 2006 and also directed the Woods Hole Cantata Consort. She currently sings with the Chatham Chorale and the Chatham Chorale Chamber Singers. 

Jan Elliott began taking recorder lessons in Falmouth at age three. After many years of study with Ruth Guillard and Patricia C. Brown, she attended Wesleyan University with a focus on early music, music education and ethnomusicology. Ms. Elliott taught at Boston University and later received a Master of Arts in dance from UCLA. She now teaches privately in Woods Hole and performs with Ensemble Passacaglia. 

Lisa Esperson began playing early music with the group In Praise of Folly, performing at the Boston Early Music Festival in 1991. Dr. Esperson, a Falmouth-based chiropractor, studied Arabic dumbek and riqq with master percussionist Karim Mohammed at New England Conservatory. She currently teaches percussion, performs with Ensemble Passacaglia, and directs the youth ensemble Explicit Noise. 

For more information, visit www.cantusnovus-falmouth.org . Or contact Cantus Novus at info at cantusnovus-falmouth.org or 508-563-1971. 

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