Jouyssance presents Spirit Child, the Sequel!

Jouyssance presents “Spirit Child” –

A Pastorela with music of the Mexican Renaissance and Baroque

            Jouyssance Early Music Ensemble will mark the arrival of Epiphany by presenting Spirit Child, a concert interweaving a traditional Mexican pastorela, or shepherds play, with music of the Mexican Renaissance and Baroque. Narrating the story of the shepherds’ pilgrimage to Bethlehem will be renowned Los Angeles Times columnist Gustavo Arellano.

            The concerts will take place January 4, 2025, at 7:30 p.m., at Holy Nativity Episcopal Church, 6700 W 83rd St., in Westchester; and January 5, 2025, at 4 p.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 122 S. California Ave., Monrovia. A complimentary post-concert holiday reception will follow each performance.

            A beloved Mexican tradition, pastorelas generally involve a series of mishaps and calamities – often at the hand of the Devil – that threaten to derail the shepherds’ journey. While often full of comedic touches, pastorelas are ultimately great testaments of faith and endurance.

The music performed in Spirit Child was written by Spaniards working in the Americas in the 1500s and early 1600s or by composers born in the New World. Composers include Juan Gutiérrez de Padilla, Gaspar Fernandes, Francisco Guerrero, and several others; the music all comes from Mexican archives, with texts in Spanish, Nahuatl, Quechua, Latin and Portuguese.

            Tickets are available in advance at www.jouyssance.org/current-season or at the door, at $25 (General Admission), $20 (Seniors/SCEMS members), or $10 for students with current school ID.

            As part of its educational outreach program, and funded in part by the Colburn Foundation, Jouyssance can offer free admission to members of the American Choral Directors Association, as well as their students.  Now in its third year, Jouyssance’s outreach program has brought early music to various K-12 schools in numerous ways, including performing mini-concerts at school assemblies, by working with school choirs, and by consulting directors on performance practice and repertoire.  Interested directors should contact Dr. Baker directly at .

            Based in Los Angeles, Jouyssance is an auditioned, primarily vocal ensemble dedicated to performing the music of the medieval, Renaissance and early Baroque periods. The ensemble was founded as the Neo-Renaissance Singers in 1962 and is the principal focus of the Foundation of the Neo-Renaissance, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supporting the performance and scholarship of early music.  For more information on Jouyssance, visit www.jouyssance.org.

            The 2024-25 season marks the 25^th anniversary of Nicole Baker’s tenure as Artistic Director. Recently retired from the music faculty at California State University, Fullerton, Dr. Baker also directs the choir at St. Philip the Apostle Church in Pasadena. She holds a master’s degree in vocal performance and a doctorate in musicology from UCLA.

            For further information, call 213-533-9922 or email .

Holy Nativity Episcopal Church
6700 W 83rd St.
Los Angeles, California 90045
America