SAINT BENEDICT MUSIC SERIES

Periodic concerts at Saint Benedict's offer high-quality music to parishioners and serve as a powerful tool for evangelization, providing non-Catholics with a window to the Catholic faith.

Concerts of sacred music "Create in churches a setting of beauty conducive to meditation, so as to arouse even in those who are distant from the Church an openness to spiritual values,” and "keep alive the treasures of Church music which must not be lost; musical pieces and songs composed for the Liturgy but which cannot in any way be conveniently incorporated into liturgical celebrations in modern times."

(Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments,

Music in Churches Other Than During Liturgical Celebrations, 1987)

Concerts

We are extremely pleased to host a full series of musical events at Saint Benedict.

Each of our performances is without cost and open to all. Free-will offerings and designated donations are taken up to make these concerts possible. Please check back for future events!

Friday, August 24, 7:00 p.m.

Jefferson Baroque presents:

"Vivaldi's Variety: Concertos, Sonatas and Vocal Music

by the Red Priest of Venice."

This program highlights the variety that exists among the composer's hundreds of surviving scores. A sonata for two violins features Vivaldi's trademark fast fiddling, a concerto highlights the sweetness of two flutes playing in harmony, a bassoon concerto growls and snarls, a work called The Night sets a bad dream to music, and bright soprano voices soar above the instruments in arias and duets, as well as an organ transcription of a Vivaldi concerto, arranged by none other than J.S. Bach--an early fan of the Red Priest's music.

Saturday, September 8, 7:30 p.m.

Three Notch’d Road: The Charlottesville Baroque Ensemble presents:

"Cantatas of J.S. Bach: Sacred Harmony"

Three Notch’d Road launches the first in a cycle of J.S. Bach’s glorious cantatas with two alto cantatas written for the liturgical season of Trinity.

Sunday, October 14, 7:00 p.m.

Zephyrus Early Music Vocal Ensemble

"Draw On, Sweet Night: Nocturnes, Benedictions & Dream-Songs"

Motets for the evening compline service by Renaissance composers Thomas Tallis and John Sheppard are juxtaposed with the ethereal music of contemporary composers Eric Whitacre and Tarik O’Regan.

Saturday, November 17, 7:30 p.m.

Three Notch’d Road: The Charlottesville Baroque Ensemble presents

"Rejoice, Mother Poland: The Glory of the Polish Baroque"

Poland’s musical heritage is vast and rich, but its flourishing in the Baroque period is virtually forgotten. Featuring works by Antoni Milwid, Mikołaj Zieleński, Adam Jarzębski, and Grzegorz Gerwazy Gorczycki, and a world premiere by composer Mark Nowakowski.

Sunday, February 10, 2019, 7:00 p.m.

"Ever Ancient, Ever New: A recital by Joel S. Kumro, Choirmaster and Organist at Saint Benedict Catholic Church"

Joel S. Kumro presents a recital of sacred and liturgical music for the organ, featuring works from the classical repertoire by J.S. Bach, Jean-François Dandrieu, and Girolamo Frescobaldi, along with newly composed works by Aaron David Miller, Gerald Near, Lynn Trapp, David Dahl, Mary Beth Bennett, and David Briggs.

Sunday, April 7, 2019, 7:00 p.m.

Richmond Concert Chorale, Jefferson Baroque,

and Saint Benedict Music Ministry present:

"Membra Jesu Nostri: The Limbs of our Jesus"

Three ensembles combine to present Dieterich Buxtehude’s stunning oratorio for chamber orchestra, choir, and vocal soloists, addressing the parts of Christ’s crucified body.