KSO will perform with music in Cincis St. Peter in Chains for “Book of Psalms” on November 13th

The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra and the St. Peter in Chains Cathedral Choir will immerse themselves in the “Book of Psalms”, while the KSO will be celebrating its 30-year-old on Saturday, November 13th at 7:30 pm in the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains Anniversary season continues in Cincinnati.

For over 300 years, composers have been inspired and set to music by the 150 liturgical worship songs from the Old Testament. This is the fifth collaboration between the KSO and the cathedral choir and the first with the new music director Matthew Geerlings. KSO and cathedral choir present three psalm settings by Georg Friederic Handel, Alexander Zemlinsky and Anton Bruckner.

Handel’s “Dixit Dominus” is a five-part choral tour de force setting of Psalm 110 – The LORD says to my lord: “Sit on my right hand until I make your enemies your stool.” The work was written in Italy in 1707 when Handel was only 22 years old. The Italians were quite enthusiastic about their singing abilities, so Handel wrote this demanding setting in 9 movements for choir, soloists, strings and continuo. (The KSO will incorporate a theorbo – a long-necked lute – for this performance).

The popular Psalm 23 – “The Lord is my Shepherd, I am not lacking anything” – is given a pastoral musical rendering by Alexander Zemlinsky. Written in 1910, Zemlinsky begins with a calm tone painting of the landscape that later gives way to darker, more chromatic, and sinuous script to depict the “Valley of Death” before returning to the sunny opening theme.

The program ends with the triumphant Psalm 150 (the last in the psalm book) by the devout Catholic Anton Bruckner “Praise the Lord”. Sometimes referred to as the musician’s psalm, the psalmist encourages everyone to praise God with music and dance while naming seven musical instruments (trumpets, psalteries, harp, tambourine, strings, organs, and cymbals).

“Liturgical music in a cathedral or church offers the right combination of venue and inspired word. Some of the most revered classical music was written for masses and liturgical events and services, ”said James Cassidy, KSO Music Director.

Tickets to each show remain $ 35 to experience great musicians, guest artists, and innovative programs that are unique to our region.

The KSO continues to adopt the security protocols of the respective venue on the day of the performance.

For those who have to stay at home, the KSO will continue to broadcast every concert (with multiple cameras) live for your “home access” for the price of a single ticket.

Tickets are available online at kyso.org or by phone at (859) 431-6216.

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