Ryan ChartrandQueen Elizabeth I will be honored Saturday at Cal Poly, courtesy of Cal Poly’s Early Music Ensemble.
The group, which performs music written before the 18th century, will present several selections from “The Triumphs of Oriana,” a 25-piece collection of music written with the intent of honoring Queen Elizabeth I. Six different pieces will be performed, according to Thomas Davies, a Cal Poly music professor and leader of the choir.
The pieces, called madrigals, were written by multiple composers, including Thomas Morely, Thomas Tomkins and Thomas Weelkes. Thomas Morely compiled the madrigals in 1601.
“This is a very historically significant piece of music in the English madrigal school,” Davies said.
The concert begins at 8 p.m. in the Christopher Cohan Performing Arts Center Pavilion.
The six madrigals will be performed by sopranos Stephanie Davies, Kelly Eshoff, Chloe Gill, Karlie Saenz, Michelle Schwartz and Laura Zapata; altos Carolyn Jorstad and Corrie Stallings; tenors Bruno Caulk and Patrick Little; and basses Richard Carrick, Matt Donner, Bryan Kim and Spud Schroeder.
Davies will open the concert by explaining the history of the work, complete with musical examples.
Tickets are $10 for the general public, and $8 for seniors and students.