The six motets are exceptional works, they kept Bach’s legacy alive and inspired composers from Mozart to Mendelssohn.
In his six Motets BWV 225-230, Bach pushes the legacies of two of his most important predecessors, Gabrieli and Schütz, to their conclusion. With a formidable contrapuntal craft that never hides the melodic beauty and expressive depth, these absolute masterpieces mark the crowning achievement of the Western polyphonic choral tradition.
On Thursday November 26, at 7:30 p.m., the Studio de musique anciennne de Montréal will perform the motets at the Salle Bourgie. This concert is presented as part of the Montreal Bach Festival, and it is already sold out but you can still experience what promises to be a brilliant performance by purchasing tickets to view the concert live, online. If you’re not available to watch the live performance, the concert will be available to watch on demand until December 2nd.
The evening before the concert, CAMMAC is privileged to be hosting a lecture by Andrew McAnerney, Artistic Director of the Studio de musique anciennne de Montréal. Mr. McAnerney will explore the history of the motets and discuss some of the challenges they present to performers. Proceeds from this lecture will go to support CAMMAC. Bring your questions to this fun and informative Bach Zoom lecture!
LECTURE: Wednesday November 25, 7:30 p.m. – $30 per person
CONCERT: Thursday November 26, 7:30 p.m. – $10 per person
About Andrew McAnerney
Andrew McAnerney was raised in the British choral tradition and studied music at the University of Oxford (Magdalen College). He has enjoyed a varied career as a conductor, consort singer, soloist and arranger. Since moving to Canada in 2013, Andrew has worked with a range of professional choirs and orchestras including Arion Baroque Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra, Chamber Players of Canada, Elmer Iseler Singers, Elora Singers, Chœur Louisbourg and La Rose des Vents. Andrew was appointed artistic director of the Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal in 2015.
A former Tallis Scholar, Andrew McAnerney has performed with many of Europe’s finest early music ensembles and is credited on over 50 recordings including the music of Bach, Brumel, Clemens non Papa, Crequillon, Gombert, Handel, Lotti, Morales, Moulu, Mozart, Palestrina, Phinot, Purcell and Rore. Andrew’s début CD with the Studio Laudate dominum, featuring music by Lassus, was released by ATMA classic in 2017.
Andrew is passionate about musical excellence and accessibility. He regularly prepares his own early music performance scores from original sources, and is fascinated with presenting rediscovered works.
About the Studio de musique anciennne de Montréal
“Unforgettable”
Claude Gingras, La Presse
“Pure beauty”
François Houde, Le Nouvelliste, 2012
Praised for its “rich-textured, vibrant sound” and “hypnotic beauty”, the Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal (SMAM) has established a reputation as Canada’s finest early music vocal ensemble. Directed by Andrew McAnerney since 2015, SMAM offers a ten concert season in Montreal and regularly tours Canada and internationally. Over the last 46 years SMAM has performed over a thousand pieces from the renaissance and baroque with a particular emphasis on exploring unrecognized or forgotten works. The group performs both a capella and with instruments and is regularly joined by renowned guest musicians.
The mission of the Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal is to perform sacred and secular early music, with a particular focus on choral works composed before 1750. Founded in 1974 by Christopher Jackson, Réjean Poirier et Hélène Dugal, SMAM is composed of 12 to 18 singers chosen for the remarkable clarity and purity of their voices. For forty-five years, SMAM has maintained a high standard of excellence and established itself as one of Canada’s finest early music vocal ensembles.
Recent work has included performing music from New France with Radio-Canada, and bringing early Canadian music to London for performances in St John Smith Square and on BBC Radio. SMAM also performed Monteverdi’s Vespers at the National Arts Centre with the National Arts Centre Orchestra and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Over the last half century SMAM has produced a remarkable discography. The most recent recording, Laudate Dominum, is devoted to the works of Orlando Lassus and received critical praise from around the world. SMAM’s next CD, dedicated to music from the court of Burgundy, will be released in 2021.