Toccata alla Fantasia

Instrumental toccatas and sacral songs have a common history. The toccata used to be an improvised introduction to a motet or fugue, preparing singers for the necessary tone. It was only in the 17th century that it became an independent genre of concert music, developing in two directions - a celebratory fanfare for horns and timpani, as well as a free-form compositions for the keyboard. The Kyrie, for its part, is one of the five traditional parts of a Roman Catholic Mass. The text is Kyrie eleison, or Lord, have mercy on us, and the music is usually prayerful, calm and full of thought.

Skilfully composed concert music full of passages, melodic and harmonic figures, complex technique and capricious rhythm, along with the song which introduces every liturgy in calling on the faithful to confess their sins and to prepare for the word of God - this will create a unique musical contrast at this concert.

Program: J. S. Bach, Hildegard of Bingen, M. Rossi, D. Buxtehude, Ch. M. Widor, G. Muffat, A. Caplet, J. Tavener, P. van Ness, O. Harkovyy, R. Jermaks, Im. Ramiņš

Performers: Vocal ensemble PUTNI  and  Jānis Pelše (organ)