Weekend concerts

A couple of weeks ago we stumbled upon a free concert, part of a festival of sacred music.  This weekend we went on purpose.  It was exquisite.  This week's concert was called Illo tempore - La polifonia fre anitco e moderno, something about polyphonic music both old and modern.  The old selections were from composers who died between 1521 and 1657.  The new composers died 1963 or were still living.  The music may have been new, but it was in a similar style to the older music.

The music was just incredible.  It seemed to float out in gentle waves from the singers in a fuzzy cloud with a few polished silvery soprano edges.  It helped that the basilica has amazing reverberating acoustics terrible for listening to the introduction, but perfect for this type of music.  The singers started standing in a semicircle surrounding the altar in the center of the building.  Later they moved to stand outside the circle of pillars.  There were slight differences in the sound with the singers in a different place.  Both were beautiful.

 Basilica interior 

This concert was in the Basilica di San Stefano Rotondo. (also here)  It is an amazing building.  Even though it looks a bit like the Pantheon inside with its round structure, it was originally built as a Christian church in the late 5th century.  It has changed a bit through the years, but remarkably little considering the amount of time that has passed.  There are mosaics from the 7th century.  The exterior walls are covered with frescoes from the 16th century that depict the deaths of Christian martyrs along with the names of the emperor who ordered the execution. 

Interesting fun fact:  The Irish king died in Rome in 1064 and is buried at St Stefano.

Original mosaic floor

On a completely different note, quite literally, we went to Piazza di Spagna to see the Carabinieri marching band.  It was part of a celebration of turning on the Christmas lights on Via dei Conditti.  We bought a cone of hot roasted chestnuts and took in the scene.

 After the band passed by we joined in the parade and followed them to the piazza where they played a few classical marches and the national anthem.  My Girl learned the national anthem in choir and remembered enough to sing along.

Afterward we stopped at the Lego store.  I loved the gladiator maximinifigures.

My Boy didn't come with us.  He had rehearsal for the school play.  He is on the tech crew where he helps with props and lighting and general doing.  Recently he was given a speaking part in one of the scenes.  They needed a radio voice, so his voice will be in the play, but he doesn't have to worry about being on stage.  I think that sounds perfect.