The Albany Chorale presents ‘The Renaissance and Beyond’ on Feb. 16

ALBANY — The Albany Chorale will offer a unique program at its Feb. 16 concert, one that brings back seldom-performed music from the Renaissance period and illustrates its influence on later works.

“It’s called ‘The Renaissance and Beyond,’” Albany Chorale Director Marc Boensel said Friday. “The reason it’s called that is we’re taking five primary examples of high Renaissance choral music and we’re juxtaposing them with a more modern setting of the same text. It’s a way of demonstrating that our choral tradition of today owes its founding to the Renaissance.”

The Renaissance period began at the end of the medieval era around 1400 and concluded when the Baroque period began around 1600.

The Chorale will perform five sets of pieces at the concert, which is set for 7 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Albany at 220 N. Jackson St. The choral group will perform a Renaissance period piece, follow it with a more modern piece, then go to the next Renaissance piece.

“There will be a Renaissance piece and then a modern piece using the same text,” Boensel said. “Then, it’ll just rotate back and forth.”

Boensel said the program will be an unusual presentation.

“It’s quite uncommon,” he said. “The Renaissance is a musical period that is not in the mainstream when it comes to concert performances. It’s the music after the Renaissance that’s predominate in the concert halls. Renaissance music is considered historic now, not mainstream concert music anymore. It’s only done by preservation societies.”

Boensel said he believes this will be the first time in the Albany area that a concert is “featuring Renaissance music as the linchpin of the performance, so it’s quite unique.”

But while Renaissance music has fallen out of favor for performance programs, it’s not because the music isn’t of a high quality.

“Folks should understand that though it’s not commonly heard anymore, it’s exquisitely beautiful music,” Boensel said. “There’s none of it that’s hard on the ear at all. It’s absolutely lush, gorgeous music. It’s just old enough that people don’t use it anymore.

“Hopefully, what this will demonstrate is that the more modern music has it roots in the Renaissance pieces, and people can hear that transition from one to the other. I think it’ll be very enlightening for folks.”

All music has deep roots in earlier music, he said.

“The popular music today that you hear on the radio can actually trace its roots all the way back to western African folk music if you follow the line all the way back,” he said. “Every type of music has long, deep, historic roots if you care to look back at them.”

After the performance, the Chorale will conduct its usual reception during which audience members can mingle with the performers.

While the Chorale, like nearly every other organization in Albany, was impacted by the devastating January storms, Boensel said the group is where it needs to be in preparation for its Feb. 16 concert.

“We had a slow start because of the January weather incidents, but we’re back on track now,” he said. “Rehearsals are every Monday night, and they’re going beautifully. We’re on track for the rest of the season now.”

Tickets for the concert are $15 for adults and $10 for students. Children younger than 10 are admitted free. Tickets are available from Chorale members, at Parker Music and at the door the night of the event.

Future performances include:

• The Chorale and other area choral groups will perform with the Albany Symphony Orchestra at its final concerts of the season, set for 7:30 p.m. March 25 at the Albany Municipal Auditorium, 201 N. Jackson St. and at 2 p.m. March 26 at Tift County High School in Tifton. Ticket information can be found at www.albanysymphony.org.

• “A Night at the Movies” will be at 8 p.m. April 22 at the Creekside Center at Chehaw, 105 Chehaw Park Road. Ticket prices for the Chorale’s annual fundraiser, which also is its season-ending concert, have not been announced. Doors will open at 7 p.m.

The Albany Chorale’s website is www.albanychorale.org.