The Church of St. Andrew in Marblehead will present a concert entitled “Cries and Ballads of London” on Sunday, June 20, 2021 at 7:00 pm. The concert will be in the church, with limited attendance, and will also be streamed live online. It is made possible in part by the 2020-2021 Gian Lyman Silbiger Grant of the Viola da Gamba Society of New England. This award fosters the performance of music for viols and voices around New England and encourages further exploration of the viol and its music.
The program, under the direction of St. Andrew’s Music Director Mary Jodice, will feature the eight-voice chamber choir Jubilate, in residence at St. Andrews, as well as the El Dorado Viol Consort. The groups will perform secular early music, centering on “The Cries of London” by Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625), which reflects cries of street vendors selling their wares.
“When I have traveled to London, I have always wondered what Old London looked like,” says Jodice. I have long had this work in mind as an anchor for the concert.” Jodice points out that Jubilate will also sing sprightly vocal music about the springtime, including songs by Morley, Marenzio and Byrd.
Members of the El Dorado Viol Consort are Carol Lewis, Karen Burciaga, Hannah Davidson, Mai-Lan Broekman, and Alice Mroszczyk. They will play fantasias by Ravenscroft, Coperario and Woodcock, and a pavan by Tomkins.
Closer to the date of the concert, St. Andrews will be taking reservations for this event on their website. Tickets are $20 per reservation. Please note that space is limited for in-person attendance. In addition, the event will also be streamed on Facebook Live (via “Church of Saint Andrew”) and will be recorded by Salem Access Television for future broadcast. To reserve a seat, follow the link at the church’s website, www.standrewsmhd.org. For those attending in person, the ticket price will be $20 per person, payable at the door. If viewing the concert via Facebook, please consider making a donation to the church, earmarking the music program; see www.standrewsmhd.org/howtogive.html. The church plans additional concerts each month, with proceeds helping to cover the cost of the music program and also going toward a planned choral residency at Lichfield Cathedral in England in 2022.
The Church of St. Andrew is at 135 Lafayette Street (Route 114) in Marblehead, near the Salem line, and is handicapped accessible. Strict COVID-19 protocols are in place, with limited indoor capacity, social distancing, and mask requirements. For more information, visit the church’s website, www.standrewsmhd.org. For more information about the Viola da Gamba Society-New England, visit www.vdgsne.org.
