Princeton Pro Musica’s 35th season features meditations on war, a Christmastide perennial, two 20th century requiems and a recreation of the Biblical plagues on Egypt.
In his second season as artistic director, Ryan James Brandau will lead the 100-voice chorus and professional orchestra in a wide-ranging series of masterworks, predominantly by English composers.
Pro Musica is set to present a concert in honor of Veteran’s Day in America and Remembrance Day in Britain by presenting works written between the two World Wars.
“Beat! Beat! Drums!” is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Nov. 9 at Princeton University’s Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall. The program includes Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem.
Williams served in the Royal Army Medical Corps during World War I. His Dona Nobis Pacem includes texts from Walt Whitman, John Bright and the Bible.
The program also has three other pieces by late Princeton University professor Edward Cone, Jeffrey Van and Aaron Copland.
Soloists for “Beat! Beat Drums” are Jo Ellen Miller, soprano, and Paul Max Tipton, baritone
Next, Pro Musica is set to present George Frideric Handel’s Messiah 2 p.m. on Dec. 22. at Trenton War Memorial’s Patriots Theater.
Scheduled soloists include Nacole Palmer, soprano, and Jesse Blumberg, baritone.
Pro Musica’s spring concert is scheduled for 8 p.m. March 15 at Princeton University’s Chapel.
The concert is set to feature two British settings of the Requiem Mass; one by Herbert Howells and the other by John Rutter
Pro Musica is set to close its season with Handel’s Israel in Egypt 3 p.m. May 11 at Richardson Auditorium.
Israel in Egypt uses tone-painting and rhythms to evoke the Biblical plagues, from jumping frogs to whirring flies, pounding hail and swelling waves. Rounding out the program is Handel’s Concerto Grosso in G Major for orchestra and instrumental soloists.
Ticket prices for Pro Musica concerts range from $25 to $55 and are available for purchase online or through Princeton University Ticketing.
More information is online at princetonpromusica.org.
