A Tale of Two Traditions | The Erebus Ensemble

Following their critically acclaimed performances of ‘A Tale of Two Traditions’, “…a masterly performance of an extraordinary piece.” - Early Music Reviews – St John’s, Smith Square (on Sheppard’s Media Vita), across London and the South East, The Erebus Ensemble returns to the Clifton International Festival of Music for an evening of sublime choral music from two beautifully contrasting schools of sacred composition; Tudor polyphony and Orthodox Holy Minimalism.

The centrepiece for this concert is Christopher Tye’s haunting Missa Euge Bone, a mid-sixteenth century setting of the mass ordinary. Like much of the music from this time it is instantly recognisable for its powerful contrast of soaring soprano lines and dense harmonic textures, achieved by splitting the tenors and basses into multiple parts. Contrasted with this are stunning settings by the two most successful sacred minimalists, John Tavener and Arvo Pärt. The Erebus Ensemble has gained an excellent reputation over the last couple of years and is particularly at home with this repertoire, it providing the perfect partner to their clear sound and dramatic approach.