Camerata Nova presents 'Byrdland'

Founded in Winnipeg in 1996, Camerata Nova is a choral ensemble composed of 13 singers. Its specialty is the performance and exploration of Renaissance music that is sung without musical accompaniment - or a cappella – which is Italian for "at the chapel."

Saturday, March 1 at St. Mary’s Cathedral Camerata Nova will be performing 'Byrdland,' a tribute to the composer William Byrd and his contemporaries. Byrd lived during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, and the first half of the concert will consist of works that the Queen would have heard in Elizabeth’s Chapel Royal from composers Byrd, Tallis and Weelkes.

"People who come to the concert will probably be taking a trip back in time," says Karine Beaudette, who sings with and helps out in various other capacities with Camerata Nova. "Especially with the concert being in St. Mary's Cathedral – which has some of the most beautiful acoustics in Winnipeg – someone could close their eyes and it would feel like a person sitting in a pew in a European cathedral or court, just as Queen Elizabeth would have heard it."

A big part of Camerata Nova is the performing of rare and obscure music, and the first half of the concert will also include some of the underground Catholic music that was written during that time.

Secular music will comprise the second half of the concert, featuring choral pieces from "Triumphs of Oriana," which is a book of 25 madrigals (secular choral music without musical accompaniment) written by 23 different composers and compiled in 1601 by Thomas Morley in honour of Queen Elizabeth.

Put the two halves together and you get an evening of pure Renaissance music, which will take Camerata Nova back to its roots and audience members back in time.

"The evening will be full of beautiful harmonies and melodies," says Beaudette. "We have our dedicated fans who come out to our concerts but it is always nice to see new faces."