Concert Theatre Works presented Secret Byrd, an immersive performance of the Mass for Five Voices, a Catholic Mass by William Byrd, a Renaissance-era English composer. Vocals were provided by the Gesualdo Six, who were backed up by several players using instruments commonly in use at that time.
The performance took place at Salvage One in West Town, which was the perfect setting for a Catholic Mass to be performed in the darkness of night. There were four performances on July 20 and July 21. The incense, candles, and Latin Mass took me back to one of my earliest memories as a Catholic.
William Byrd was a composer of sacred music for Queen Elizabeth I. He composed beautiful music for the royal court and managed to avoid imprisonment in the Tower, despite also composing music for the Catholic Church. There was intense persecution of Catholics in England, primarily to keep the Royal line Anglican, with the regent as the head of the church. Elizabeth I had her cousin's head lopped off by the executioner because she was a dreaded papist and had a claim on the throne. Catholics in England practiced in secret under the threat of property confiscation, imprisonment, or death. Byrd balanced a fine line as a practicing Catholic.
Founded by Bill Barclay, CTW seeks to bring authentic music experiences to audiences. While the music was the focus, Secret Byrd sought to recreate the experience of the late 16th Century. The Gesualdo Six consisted of the priest and the Mass attendants, all dressed in authentic Renaissance costume, and their voices are a spiritual experience no matter your leanings. Countertenors Guy James and Alasdair Austin had a pure and ethereal sound. Tenors Joseph Wicks and Josh Cooter, with Baritone Simon Grant, meshed their voices perfectly. The sixth member is Director Owain Park. They sang with emotion, and the beauty of their voices in perfect harmony is something to be experienced. I could see that it was a moving experience for the audience as well.
The musicians consisted of two groups of violists da gamba: Second City Musick (Craig Trompeter, Anna Steinhoff, and Russell Wagner) and Viol Medium (Eric Miller and Phillip Serna). The viol is the precursor to the violin and viola, and is played "da gamba," meaning on the leg. The viol can play many octaves with a clean sound and excellent timbre. The groups alternated parts of the Mass and played in unison at the end of the program.
Secret Byrd was performed in promenade style, allowing the audience to walk through the scene. Some were asked to join the quintet at an elaborate table glowing with candlelight. There were several chalices on the table, along with rosaries and fruit, near the place settings. At one point, the quintet and audience members at the table joined hands as the songs continued.
In recognition of the secrecy of performing a Catholic Mass in Elizabethan England, several large parchment posters were placed around Salvage One, offering commentary on belief, persecution, and the distinction between being given a religion versus practicing a faith. Religion is a construct based on rote verses memorized in praise of whatever entity is at the center. It could be God, Jesus, Buddha, Muhammad, the Trinity, or countless deities, depending on one's origins.
The performance also brought to mind those who could afford to practice their Catholic faith. Many of these secret masses were held in stately homes in the English countryside. When the homes are refurbished, a "priest hole" is often discovered, used to hide the priest in case the authorities interrupted the service. There was a reenactment of the authorities at the gate. There was a menacing knock on a heavy door (authentic at Salvage One), and the singers and priest went about blowing the candles out. During the pre-show tour, we were informed that a surprise moment of darkness was planned. The lingering aroma of candle wax and incense hung in the darkness of the huge loft space.
Secret Byrd is a fully immersive experience, including a bread and wine communion. The Mass for Five Voices is a composition that resonates through the body, engaging the senses and memory. The Gesualdo Six, Viol Medium, and Windy City Musick made a magical evening. I highly recommend the experience. Four Stars. Secret Byrd was 80 minutes with no intermission, at Salvage One, 1840 W. Hubbard St. For more information, please visit https://www.thegesualdosix.co.uk/. https://violmedium.org/, https://secondcitymusick.com/ and https://concerttheatreworks.com/portfolio/secret-byrd/
All three groups have recorded music that is available on their websites, with some content also available for streaming. Get out and enjoy the cultural landscape of Chicago, no matter the season.
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