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A VERY RENMEN CHRISTMAS: LIVE!

Friday, 13 November 2020!

on Navona Records

Eric Christopher Perry tenor, conductor & artistic director

Eduardo Antonio Ramos Suárez tenor

Fausto Miro tenor

Kilian Mooney tenor

Corey Dalton Hart tenor

Will Prapestis baritone

Peter C Schilling baritone & business manager

Brian Church baritone

Benjamin Pfeil bass-baritone

Anthony Burkes Garza bass & general manager

The Renaissance Men are back with their latest release on Navona Records: A VERY RENMEN CHRISTMAS: LIVE! The album, which features lush choral arrangements of traditional hymns and holiday classics, captures the festive spirit of the RenMen’s annual Christmas galas for listeners everywhere.

Following on the heels of their 2019 release, RENMEN LAMENTS, this newest collection offers timeless seasonal chamber music arranged for tenor, baritone, and bass voices. The album opens with soloist Corey Dalton Hart intoning the verse of Some Children See Him; the sparkling clarity of each rounded note is soon multiplied by the rest of the choir, elevating the performance to spiritual heights.

This is followed by Cantate Domino, an invigorating setting of Psalm 96. With its aggressive rhythmic action and sensitive dynamics, the Latin text is presented as an arresting and captivating musical piece. Riu Chiu is a traditional Spanish song, and the RenMen bring it to life with passionate energy against the chattering rhythm of a tambourine. The RenMen treat listeners to favorite classics, as well, but always with that signature sound and attention to detail they are known for. Their rendition of I’ll Be Home for Christmas is a treatment of the song made popular by Rascal Flatts. Blending the choral group’s influences, this number incorporates jazz, country, and popular stylings seamlessly with traditional choral techniques. Later, songs like Jingle Bells and Frosty the Snowman offer a lighthearted counterpoint to O Magnum Mysterium and Angels We Have Heard on High, making this a joyful and inviting holiday album for the whole family.

Steeped in time-honored western choral music and flavored with yuletide fun, A VERY RENMEN CHRISTMAS: LIVE! brings the merriment of the RenMen’s live performances to your living room. Pour some eggnog, don that favorite Christmas sweater, and enjoy this collection of ancient and modern classics.

Release Date: November 13, 2020

Catalog #: NV6319

Format: Physical & Digital 

Ms. Dotterweich comes to Renaissance Men with experience in numerous arts management and fundraising roles, and over two decades as a singer and innovative leader in the choral arts. She supported Renaissance Men through their 2019-2020 season and secured funding for the production of their most recent album, A Very RenMen Christmas LIVE! In addition to her arts administration work, Samantha is an emerging professional singer in Boston, performing recently with the Boston Early Music Festival. Emmanuel Music, and Boston Baroque, among others. 

Says RenMen’s Artistic Director, Eric Christopher Perry, “On the heels of our organization's seventh anniversary, Samantha Dotterweich will make history as our first Executive Director. She embodies every aspect of our ensemble's character and vision as a dynamic, multi-dimensional artist and administrator. Since her addition to our team as our principal grant writer she has dramatically enhanced our mission with steadfastness and sophistication. On behalf of our artists and Board of Directors, we are all so excited to enter our next chapter with Samantha's leadership.”

Ms. Dotterweich is likewise enthusiastic about her future with Renaissance Men: “The last ten months have been a challenge of historic proportions for everyone, including the arts sector. I am proud of the work that I have accomplished with RenMen thus far, and am delighted to begin 2021 with a strong sense of purpose for their future. This ensemble has tremendous potential and I look forward to watching them flourish.”

Renaissance Men is thrilled to announce the appointment of

Samantha Dotterweich as the organization’s first Executive Director!

Renaissance Men Inc. is proud to announce that we are the recipients of three grants in early 2020.

We have been awarded generous support from the Newton Cultural Council, supported by the Mass Cultural Council, as well as the Boston Cultural Council for the production of our "A Very RenMen Christmas LIVE!" concert in December. Thanks to their generosity toward the evening's event, we were able to record and produce it for a live commercial recording, anticipated for release later this year on Navona Records.

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A Very RenMen Christmas LIVE! was produced by Jeffrey Means — an extraordinary musician and musical mind, known for his work with the critically-acclaimed ensemble Sound Icon (read more about them here: www.soundiconensemble.org).

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This record will feature all of the holiday favorites you’ve come to love from our previous concerts, including Paul John Rudoi’s “Cantate Domino”, Daniel E Gawthrop’s “The Longest Night”, Saunder Choi - composer’s “Angels We Have Heard On High”, Hugh Martin’s arrangement of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, and much, much more

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This program is supported in part by a grant from the Boston Cultural Council and administered by the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Newton Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

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We are also ecstatic to announce support from The Alice M. Ditson Fund for the production of our third commercial effort, RenMentality, our music and mental health themed program, to be recorded and released in 2021, also on the Navona label. The Alice M. Ditson Fund, whose mission places "emphasis on funding of performances and recordings of music by emerging American composers," has specifically supported RenMentality's featured composition,

Jay Mobley's "When I Look Back," a co-commission by Renaissance Men and the National Alliance on Mental Illness Massachusetts. 

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Renaissance Men Inc. congratulates and expresses profound gratitude to our Board of Directors, Samantha Dotterweich, Director of Grants, our artist-led administrative team, Navona Records, and our loyal donors and supporters for their continued dedication to RenMen's mission and musical aspirations. 

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More news about A Very RenMen Christmas LIVE! and RenMentality can be found on our blog or our Facebook page @renmenmusic. If you would like to support either or any of RenMen's activities please consider a tax-deductible donation, or e-mail info@renaissance-men.com  to find out how to get involved.

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