On Sunday, December 1, the award-winning Eya Ensemble based in Washington D. C. will perform a concert entitled “The Jesse Tree” at 4:00 p.m. at Christ Church in downtown Easton. Specializing in the interpretation of medieval music for women’s voices, Eya has established its place in the Baltimore/Washington, DC community as an early music ensemble of impeccable vocal quality, deep spirit, and smarts.
Directed by Allison Mondel, Eya presents concert programs that interweave diverse repertories of the 12th through 15th centuries, from Hildegard von Bingen to Notre Dame to the flyleaves of early English manuscripts and beyond. Through this lens, these programs seek to tell a story that forges new points of connection between contemporary audiences and medieval repertoire, underlining our common humanity with these early poets and composers.
Eya’s performers are some of the finest young early music specialists in the region. Audiences have praised the ensemble for its vocal beauty, fascinating and accessible programming, fresh and inspired interpretations, and musicianship of the highest standard. Most recently, Eya is the proud recipient of the 2013 Greater DC Choral Excellence Award for Best Specialty Group: Early Music.
For centuries, the season of Advent has been recognized over four weeks leading up to Christmas. The concert, based upon Isaiah’s ancient prophecy, “a shoot shall come out from the root of Jesse and a flower shall grow out of his roots,” is particularly appropriate for the season as December 1 marks the first Sunday in Advent. The symbol of the “Jesse tree,” as representing the spiritual and genealogical lineage of Jesus, lit the medieval imagination. Stained glass windows and illuminated manuscripts testify to the prominence of this image within the visual arts. In medieval music, countless works examine this theme, realized in works of both humble devotion and exuberant praise. Eya explores these fascinating and thoughtful interpretations of Isaiah’s prophecy in a program ranging from the monasteries of 13th-century England, to the visionary songs of Hildegard von Bingen, to the grand splendor of Notre Dame Cathedral.
Christ Church is located at 111 South Harrison Street in Easton. A freewill offering will be taken and refreshments will follow in the parish hall. This concert is a part of the 2013-14 Christ Church Concert Series and is sponsored in part by the Talbot County and Maryland State Arts Councils. For information call 410-822-2677.
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