Tactus SF presents

Palestrina 500

Songs of Faith and Love

Sacred and Secular Music by the Master of Renaissance Polyphony

Sven Edward Olbash, Director
Eugene Petrushansky, Organ

Concert Program [PDF]

February 27, 2025 - Thursday, 7:30 pm St. Matthew's Lutheran Church (3281 16th St, San Francisco, CA) SF Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 at the door February 28, 2025 - Friday, 7:30 pm St. Mark's Episcopal Church (2300 Bancroft Way Berkeley, CA 94704) Berkeley Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 at the door Live Stream Tickets: $5 Live stream of the Friday concert (on sale through Friday, March 14), can be watched on-demand anytime. You will receive a link within 24 hours before the start of the concert. No one turned away for lack of funds In-person and online access is FREE for Patreon subscribers! If you are a Patreon supporter, you do NOT need to also reserve an Eventbrite ticket.

Feast your ears as 24-voice Renaissance vocal ensemble Tactus SF celebrates the 500th birthday of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, arguably the most-celebrated composer of the 16th century-with a concert of his works.

The program features Palestrina’s splendid Missa Tu Es Petrus for six voices, one of the most renowned of his 105 settings of the Roman Catholic mass. Written in brilliant counterpoint, uses movement is based on his motet by the same name, translated: “You are Peter [literally, 'the rock'], and on this rock I will build my church.”

Along with sacred music, Tactus SF will also sing secular love songs from Musica Transalpina, a 1580s collection of madrigals adapted to appeal to English-speaking audiences—a testimony to Palestrina’s international popularity. Guest organist Eugene Petrushansky rounds out the program with selected keyboard works often attributed to Palestrina.