The ensemble has accepted an invitation to this special concert in May. In the opening notes of Echos of Folksongs by Leoš Janáček, we can hear the young composer influenced by folk music, his travels in Moravia and his first experiences as a choirmaster.
In stark contrast there are the Brigand Songs commissioned from Bohuslav Martinů at the end of his life by the Prague Teachers’ Choir (I) and the Moravian Teachers’ Choir (II).
One of the composers who write directly for Gentlemen Singers is Jan Vičar; his choral arpeggio arrangement of the song Love Sweet Love is quite unique. Vejr [Eagle Owl] is a musical pun spontaneously inspired by this ensemble.
The second half of the concert is entitled On the Road. Martinmas Songs [St. Martin’s Day Songs] by the Estonian composer Veljo Tormis is a song cycle drawing from Estonian folk music. The program concludes with audience-pleasing pieces based on the folk music of Scotland, Ireland, India and Australia.
