The Deer's Cry: Canterbury

The Deer's Cry is a powerful exploration of the music of two masters of sacred music, Arvo Pärt and William Byrd.

Whilst coming from very different eras, William Byrd and Arvo Pärt are both considered masters of sacred music despite having faced considerable persecution for their work. This programme presents six of William Byrd’s works from the Cantiones Sacrae including the monumental Tribue, Domine, and the mighty eight-voice motet Ad Dominum cum tribularer. The three works by Arvo Pärt speak in his unmistakable voice, with its unique blend of ancient and modern, and include his mesmerising Nunc dimittis which is crafted in his bell-like ‘tinitinnabuli’ style.

Part of the 2025 Canterbury Festival

Programme:

Hildegard of Bingen: Ave, generosa (v 1-4)
Pärt: Tribute to Caesar
Byrd: Christe qui lux es et dies
Pärt: The Deer’s Cry
Byrd: Emendemus in melius
Pärt: the woman with the alabaster box
Byrd: Ad Dominum cum tribularer
Hildegard of Bingen: Ave, generosa (v. 5-7)
Pärt: Da pacem Domine
Tallis / Byrd: Miserere nostri
Pärt: Nunc Dimittis
Byrd: Vigilate
Byrd: Tribue Domine