Cal Poly Early Music Ensemble to Perform ‘The Fabulous French’ May 23

The Cal Poly Early Music Ensemble, under the direction of music Professor Thomas Davies, will present “The Fabulous French” concert featuring Jean Gilles’ “Requiem” (Messe de morts) at 8 p.m. Friday, May 23, in Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa.

Gilles (1668-1705) lived during the reign of Louis XIV. He was considered one of the more outstanding of the “lesser-known” composers of his time. He was particularly revered in the century following his death. After a 1726 performance, one commentator ranked Gilles “Requiem” as “among the most beautiful of musical works.” Its popularity was such that it was heard during a memorial service for Jean-Philippe Rameau, one of France’s most important 18th-century composers, and during the funeral services for Louis XV in 1774.  

The 14 student members of the Cal Poly Early Music Ensemble are from a variety of majors on campus and will be joined by Cal Poly faculty instrumentalists Paul Severtson, viola; David Hennessee, viola; and Jeanne Shumway, cello. San Luis Obispo Symphony member Emily Cox will play violin. Early Music Ensemble accompanist Paul Woodring will play organ.

Tickets to the concert are $14 for the public, $12 for senior citizens and $9 for students. They are on sale at the Performing Arts Ticket Office between noon and 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. To order by phone, call SLO-4TIX (756-4849).

The Music Department offers a 10 percent discount to patrons who buy season tickets to four of its events through the Performing Arts Ticket Office; a 15 percent discount is given on tickets to five or more events.

The concert is sponsored by Cal Poly’s College of Liberal Arts, Music Department, and Instructionally Related Activities program. For more information, call the Music Department at 805-756-2406.