Concert: Symphoniae Sacrae, Van Diemen’s Band & The Choir of St James’

These sacred symphonies, a collection of vocal and instrumental works based on religious texts and designed to be performed in the church, trace a path from Venice to northern Germany during the tumultuous and heart-rending years of the Thirty Years’ War.

Featuring works by Gabrieli, Cavalli, Schütz, and Schop, along with selections from Monteverdi’s Selva morale e spirituale, this stunning program explores how the Venetian musical tradition paved the way for the golden era of northern German Baroque composition, ultimately leading to J.S. Bach himself.

Connecting this music to the present day, two extraordinary Australian composers have created contemporary responses to this Baroque repertoire: Brooke Shelley’s Et Versa Est Victoria and Alice Chance’s Au Nord, works that reimagine and recontextualise this rich musical heritage.

Artists