On Saturday, May 4, and Friday, May 10, Zephyrus Early Music Vocal Ensemble presents “Polyphony & Power: Music from the Court of Charles V.”

Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, King of Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands, was a central figure in some of the most pivotal moments in history, from the Reformation to the Atlantic slave trade. He was not only a powerful monarch but also a great patron of music, employing at his court some of the most celebrated composers of his day. Zephyrus traces Charles’s life through the music that accompanied it—his favorite chanson, written by Josquin; wedding and coronation masses by Gombert and Morales; motets marking political victories; and music composed for the emperor’s funeral.

For the May 4 concert at St Paul's Memorial Church in Charlottesville, tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors, and $5 for students and are available through our website, www.zephyrus-va.org, or with cash or check at the door. Admission to the May 10 performance at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Richmond at 7:30 pm is by donation only. Both venues are handicap accessible.

Zephyrus is a non-profit organization dedicated to the study and performance of music from the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque eras, directed by Megan Sharp.