Et Ascendit In Caelum

This year, I am honored (and more than a little intimidated) to be a member of the Duke Chapel Vespers Ensemble. I spent two years in the choir and then took a two-year hiatus, so coming back has been an adjustment. It's one of several things in my life right now that are difficult and challenging but for good reason.

We had a concert this past Sunday, which went fine, but the music was very much Baroque (Bach, and Schutz's German Requiem), and this is a Renaissance choir at heart (or maybe just at my heart, but hey). So I was thrilled when tonight at rehearsal we delved into William Byrd's Mass for Four Voices, a work I actually sang with Vespers three years ago. I distinctly remember spending my spring break listening to the Tallis Scholars' recording of the work repeatedly on my iPod in preparation for the concert. Even better, my spring break was spent at a Benedictine monastery in New Mexico (which, if you've ever read my blog at all, you've probably heard of), Christ in the Desert.

The Credo movement was always my favorite. I'm not sure why; maybe it's just how I love the way Byrd does text painting in the movement of the music--for example, at the line et ascendit in caelum ("and he ascended into heaven"), the sopranos soar into their upper range. This is by far the longest movement, as it is a setting of the Nicene Creed. It's quite lovely. Check out the rest of the Mass, all on YouTube or iTunes.