Time: 8 p.m.

Cover: $15 regular, $10 seniors/ students

It’s one of Southern Alberta’s most familiar features: the unrelenting west wind. Over the centuries, numerous composers have paid musical tribute to this weather phenomenon and on April 9 at Southminster Church, the U of L Singers and U of L Women’s Chorus come together for Western Wind, to perform choral works that honour the wind and women in music.

“The U of L Singer’s focal piece on the wind theme is a 16th century Mass by English composer John Taverner,” says Dr. Janet Youngdahl, U of L Singers director. “At that time there was a popular song called Western Wind, the theme from which several composers used as the basis for writing masses.  The Taverner Mass is one of the best examples, with its memorable tune and intricate intertwined vocal lines on the mass text.” Other offerings include a set of pieces pairing two settings of When David Heard; one by Renaissance composer Thomas Weelkes and the other by contemporary composer Eric Whitacre.  The choir also performs another wind themed piece, Edward Elgar’s O Wild West Wind.

The U of L Women’s Chorus has prepared a series of pieces by Renaissance composers. “The music we are performing was inspired by women’s traditions, generally composed for convents of the Baroque era,” says Dr. Ruth Phillips, the group’s director.  The program features a Cantata by Nicola Porpora written for girl’s choir and two late Renaissance pieces by Giovanni Gabrieli and Tomás Luis de Victoria as well as a Canon by Johannes Okeghem.

To enjoy the majesty of Western Wind, get your tickets at the University Box Office weekdays 12:30-3:30 pm, by calling (403) 329-2616 or at the door the night of the concert. Tickets are $15 regular and $10 senior/student.