Harold Brown was born October 31, 1909. The Harold Brown Centennial, held from October 30 to November 1, 2009, was our tribute to an inspired teacher, composer, conductor, and founder of the Renaissance Chorus of New York.   View GEMS announcement   View Centennial Program

Friday October 30, 7 pm: Renaissance Open Sing, Reunion, Reception:
The Centennial began with an Open Sing at Advent Lutheran Church (www.adventnyc.org/music), Broadway at 93rd St., Manhattan, in the undercroft. Everyone who likes to sing was welcome; about 70 came. Sixteen pieces, mostly Renaissance, were sung under several past conductors, and students of Harold Brown. The reception was co-hosted with the Friday Night Group Sight-Singing Collective.   View Program   View Pictures of Sing   Hear the singing

Saturday October 31, 3 pm: Concert of Harold Brown's Compositions:
Again at Advent Lutheran, we presented chamber and vocal works of Harold Brown.  View Program.   View Pictures of Concert

• Two Experiments for Flute, Clarinet and Bassoon (1931), performed by Alice Jones, flute; Eduardo L�pez-Dabdoub, clarinet; and Adam Lintz, bassoon;
• Three songs for soprano and piano: "Miniver Cheevy", "Alysoun" and "Sylvia the fair" (1947-8) sung by soprano Danielle Woerner with pianist Emily White;
• String Quartet (1932), performed by the Tessera Quartet;
• Choral Setting No. 1 for women's voices (1940), performed by the Women's Chorus of The Renaissance Chorus, directed by Joel Meltz;
• Four Little Preludes for piano (1935), performed by Emily White;
• String Quintet (1935), performed by the Tessera Quartet with guest violist Louise Schulman.

Saturday October 31, 6:30 pm: Dinner and Celebration of Harold Brown's 100th Birthday!
Following the Saturday concert, a gathering of choristers and performers and their guests was held at Dean�s Restaurant and Pizzeria, 215 West 85th Street, near Broadway. View reservation list.   View Pictures of Dinner

Sunday November 1, 7:30 pm: Choral Concert
The final event was a Renaissance Chorus presentation by several ensembles with a jointly sung finale. The venue was Christ and St. Stephen's Church, 120 West 69th Street, between Broadway and Columbus Avenue. View Program.  View Pictures of Concert Click on a title to hear the performance (ARACU Recording).

• The Renaissance Street Singers, directed by John Hetland. Heinrich Finck: two hymns — Genitori genitoque, Quorum praecepto subditur; Johannes Martini: Magnificat secundi toni.
• The Canby Singers, directed by Sheila Schonbrun. Giovanni da Palestrina: Vergine Bella; Guillaume Du Fay: Vergene bella; Orlande de Lassus: three chansons — Quand mon mari, La nuict froide, Gallans qui par terre.
• Asteria, Sylvia Rhyne, soprano, and Eric Redlinger, tenor and lute. Antoine Busnoys: three chansons — Ja que lui ne, Quant ce vendra, Le corps s'en va.
• Music Divine, directed by Stephen Bonime. Jean de Ockeghem: Alma Redemptoris mater; Hans Leo Hassler: Ad Dominum cum tribularer; Heinrich Sch�tz: Die mit tr�nen s�en; Josquin des Prez: Kyrie from Missa Une mousse de Biscaye.
• Joint Finale, directed by Joel Meltz. Jean de Ockeghem: Credo sine nomine.

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