This Sunday’s voluntaries and anthem are a celebration of early music, in honor of Portland’s annual William Byrd Festival which ends on Sunday. St. Michael’s Music Director & Organist Hannah Brewer and Senior Warden Ann Wetherell both sing in the festival’s choir, Cantores in Ecclesia, which specializes in sacred polyphony. This year’s festival highlights four of the top composers of the Renaissance: Byrd, Lasso, Palestrina, and Victoria. As such, Sunday morning’s 10am organ voluntaries are by Byrd (c. 1540-1623) and his compatriot Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625), and a small vocal ensemble will sing a brief two-part anthem in Latin by Orlando di Lasso (1532-1594).

Have you been inspired by the pickup choir offerings this summer? Are you thinking about joining one of our choirs this fall? Please get in touch with Choir Director Brian or Music Director Hannah if so. Our English-language choirs regather after Labor Day to start the new season of music-making and community-building. NO AUDITIONS! Watch this space over the next few weeks to learn more about each of our choirs…