Early Music at Saint George's
Saint George's is known for its fine acoustics and as a perfect place for the performing and hearing of early music. These concerts feature top professionals in the early music field, engaging programming, and much virtuosity. We welcome you to join us for these musical feasts. Keep checking back as new information is added regularly. For additional information or questions, please contact our Minister of Music, Dr. Ben Keseley.
See a complete listing and details of our concerts and offerings at www.saintgeorgesmusic.org
Saturday, April 30, 2016 | 7:00pm
ELENA MULLINS, SOPRANO
DOUGLAS FREUNDLICH, LUTE
THE ELIZABETHAN LUTE BAND
2015-2016 season
September 25, 2015 | 7:30PM
Violino senza Basso, Risa Browder, baroque violin
Baroque violinist Risa Browder explores some of the most virtuosic solo violin music of the 18th century by the incomparable Johan Sebastian Bach, juxtaposing his music with the more modest, but charming solos by Bach's friend and colleague, Georg Philipp Telemann. A free-will offering will be taken to benefit AFAC.
October 16, 2015 | 8:00PM
Les Bonstonades: Baroque Bouquet: A variety of sonatas of French and German Masters
The period instrument ensemble Les Bostonades, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this season, is known for its innovative programming of music by lesser-known French Baroque composers, together with that of the greatest masters of the Baroque. In this concert, members of the ensemble (Héloïse Degrugillier, recorder/traverso; Laura Gulley, violin; Carol Lewis, viola da gamba; Akiko Sato, harpsichord) play obbligato sonatas, trio sonatas and quartets by Boismortier, Bach, Leclair, Telemann and Guillemain. Presented by Capitol Early Music (capitolearlymusic.org)
December 4, 2015 | 7:30PM
Illuminare: Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols and Handel’s Harp Concerto in Bb Major
Illuminare, under the direction of Vera Kochanowsky, performs one of the 20th century's most beloved Christmas masterpieces: Benjamin Britten's Ceremony of Carols. The texts Britten used in this work all stem from the late middle -ages and Renaissance. As a preface, Illuminare will offer a selection of English medieval carols. Harpist Ms. Mailand will also perform Handel's delightful Concerto in Bb Major.
January 30, 2016 | 8:00pm
O Rosa Bella: Courtly Love Songs of the 14th and 15th Centuries
Alkemie presents a program of 14th and 15th century courtly love songs by Machaut, Ciconia, and Dufay. This program features David McCormick and Niccolo Seligmann on vielles and other early bowed instruments, vocalists Elena Mullins and Tracy Cowart, and vocalist and recorder player Sian Ricketts. Presented by Capitol Early Music.
February 26, 2016 | 7:30pm
Corda Nova presents English cavalier songs & dances
The baroque ensemble Corda Nova, along with tenor Jason Rylander, presents a program of works by English composers who stayed at home (Purcell, Hume, Lawes) and traveled abroad (Young, Butler). Lively instrumental selections highlight the popular forms of the day, including the trio sonata, divisions, songs, and tunes from the theater.
March, 19, 2016 | 7:30 PM
Devotional Songs of John Dowland: CD Release Concert
Barbara Hollinshead, mezzo-soprano; Howard Bass, lutes; Tina Chancey and Amy Domingues, violas da gamba.
John Dowland (1562 – 1626) was the greatest and most prolific English lutenist-composer of the late 16th and early 17th centuries. His four published books of songs include some of the most affecting—and melancholy—poetry and music of the English Renaissance. While Dowland’s early songs are mostly secular love songs, his final book, A Pilgrim’s Solace (1612), includes songs of a decidedly spiritual nature; among those songs are three that include obbligato parts for treble and bass viols. It is worth noting that the majority of Dowland’s melancholy songs are not sad love songs; rather, they deal directly with personal feelings of sorrow, self-pity, and darkness, typified by the song “In darkness let me dwell.” Dowland employed chromatics, rapid shifts from major to minor, and key modulations to great effect in these songs. Our program and forthcoming recording focus on Dowland’s late songs and complementary lute solos to bring attention to the way this most doleful of composers brought forth in beauty some of the deepest, darkest, and devotional thoughts of his complex psyche. Performers are Barbara Hollinshead, mezzo-soprano; Howard Bass, lutes; Tina Chancey and Amy Domingues, violas da gamba.