The La Jolla Renaissance Singers
Since 1963, the La Jolla Renaissance Singers have been bringing the finest of early choral music to the San Diego area. Based in La Jolla, California, the elite choir draws members from across the county.
The 25-member group performs vocal music written from the Middle Ages through the Renaissance, with occasional forays into the Romantic and Modern periods. In period costume, the group performs in concert halls, museums, and churches, as well as in libraries, parks, and for private parties.
The La Jolla Renaissance Singers rehearse weekly on Wednesday evenings in La Jolla. Since rehearsals are a capella, sight-singing ability is essential.
To schedule an audition, receive email notification of our appearances, or to hire us for performance, please contact us.
This season, LJRS presents...
Ceremonies of Carols
Feasting Songs for the People
Featuring: A Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976)
This winter, the La Jolla Renaissance Singers present a collection of carols that celebrate the holy days of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany. People of every time and place have naturally come together to celebrate sacred days. Simply speaking, carols are folks songs that mark as religious feast -- a sort of pious non-church music.
This combination of secular and sacred is the central idea to our music selections this season. We begin with the modern setting of Medieval texts, Benjamin Britten's A Ceremony of Carols, arranged for mixed choir with harp. The juxtaposition of ancient words and neo-ancient harmonies mirrors the contrasts that carols represent: folk melodies and liturgical music, the commoner and the high church, the organized establishment and the organic response of the people.
Our focus on the people's response to the religious feast day continues with additional carol selections, including old English feasting carols, carols from Spain and Catalonia, and a musical recreation of the Mexican posada. With music from Great Britain, Spain, and Mexico, this promises to be a show of simultaneously humble and exquisite music.
From "Peter Pears & Benjamin Britten"
Oil on Canvas by Kenneth Green, 1943
Concert Schedule
| Day | Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | December 2, 2011 | 5:00 p.m. |
San Diego Museum of Art, Balboa Park, 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101 |
| Sunday | December 4, 2011 | 2:30 p.m. | Scripps Ranch Library, 10301 Scripps Lake Drive San Diego, CA 92131 |
| Sunday | January 8, 2012 | 3:00 p.m. | Church of St. Mary Magdalene, 1945 Illion Street San Diego, CA 92110 |
Past programs
| Spring Season | Fall Season |
|---|---|
| Spring 2003 | Fall 2003 |
| Spring 2004 | Fall 2004 |
| Spring 2005 | Fall 2006 |
| Spring 2007 | Fall 2007 |
| Spring 2008 | Fall 2008 |
| Spring 2009 | Fall 2009 |
| Spring 2010 | Fall 2010 |
| Spring 2011 |
Sound Bites
Click the links below to hear recordings from our previous performances
Donate Now!
LJRS is a Federally Certified 501(c) (3) Non-Profit Arts Organization, which means that any donation you make to us is fully tax deductible. Please help us grow!