MANY VOICES is a celebration of diverse voices and styles. European music before 1600 is represented by the Salve regina for six voices by the 15th-century Flemish composer Jacob Obrecht and a pair of madrigals by one of the few published female composers of the 16th century, Vittoria Aleotti. Leaping forward to the 20th century, Jean-Yves Daniel-Lesur’s Le Cantique des cantiques (1952) sets poetry from the Song of Songs, translated into French, in a rich texture of twelve solo voices. Boston’s own Grammy-nominated composer Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol brings us into the present day with Devran, a polyphonic work that marries Sufi Muslim texts, Renaissance counterpoint, and elements of traditional Middle Eastern music. Finally, we will perform a motet by Kevin Allen, from whom we commissioned a new piece for Christmas 2020.

The concert also features a guest appearance by Sanlikol’s ensemble DÜNYA, a collective specializing in music from Turkish traditions.

Free pre-concert talk by Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol (Dünya, New England Conservatory) 45 minutes before each concert.