Plaza Home  |  Concerts & Events | Piffaro on Tour!

The European North Beckons Once Again!

Piffaro travels northward over the Alps to Renaissance Germany, Switzerland and Austria for its 2012-2013 concert season, including an intriguing foray into the 21st century. Shedding their identities of last season as Spanish and New World Ministriles, Piffaro’s musicians once again don the garb of northern Pfeiffer and return to some of their favorite repertoire, ranging from the delightfully varied song settings of Ludwig Senfl to the chorales of Johann Sebastian Bach, from the unabashed dances of the common folk to the formal court entertainments of the aristocracy.

Join us to hear ingeniously conceived part songs, heart-warming chorales, rambunctious dances and intricately-woven polyphonic motets, just about every possible style you might imagine, including a few favorites sprinkled amongst a wealth of newly-researched and unearthed masterpieces, with a new composition thrown in for good
measure – a panoply of delights from some of the great northern European composers of the 15 th through the early 18th centuries, and, well, through even to the present day.

And join us, too, for informative and entertaining pre-concert talks 45 minutes before each show, free to concert ticket holders.

Program I: Pfeiffern! Music for Renaissance towns, courts and cathedrals

Music from the pens of the illustrious German composers of the 16th century that enlightened and entertained
in their own day, and still do today. Featured on this program will be the full range and variety of Piffaro’s
large collection of instruments, including all the shawms, dulcians, sackbuts, krumhorns, bagpipes, lutes, harps,
percussion and more!
Concert 1, Read More

Program II: Fröhliche Weihnachten!

What better way to celebrate the Christmas season than to partake of an evening of holiday music from Renaissance
Germany! Together with perennial favorites old and new, this program will include a sing-along or two with
Piffaro’s shawms, sackbuts and dulcians. Guest soprano, the renowned Laura Heimes, once again joins Piffaro for
this holiday event.
Concert 2, Read More

Program III: The Winds of Yore…..and Now!

Piffaro and Orchestra 2001 collaborate in a rollicking and intriguing celebration of music for winds early and most
lately. This concert will premier a new composition for both ensembles together by Philadelphia’s own Kile Smith,
commissioned just for this occasion. And famed soprano Julianne Baird will add her own magical sound to the
two ensembles.
Concert 3, Read More

Special Events

1. Piffaro presents The Laughing Bird

Piffaro is pleased to introduce The Laughing Bird, Philadelphia’s newest early music vocal quartet, in a salon-style concert. Music begins at 8PM and wine and food, provided by caterer Richard Spotts and patron Jack Galgon, will be served beginning at 7:30 pm. The musical program will explore music that was composed for the Court of the Gonzagas, powerful patrons who supported musical masters including Palestrina, Monteverdi, and Marchetto Cara.

2. The Bach Festival of Philadelphia presents Back before Bach!

Piffaro is an invited guest for this vocal and instrumental program together with select singers of Choral Arts
Philadelphia, part of The Bach Festival’s annual Festival weekend in Philadelphia. The concert will present music
from the 16th and 17th centuries that influenced the great J. S. Bach.

3. Piffaro presents its national recorder competition

Young recorder players from around the country gather in Philadelphia for the finals of Piffaro’s bi-annual
competition. Join us in January 2013 to hear these young virtuosi, live!
Concert 4 and Special Events, Read More