CONCERT 1: FALL 2012Pfeiffern! Music for Renaissance towns, courts and cathedrals8 pm, Friday, October 12, 2012 in Chestnut Hill:
Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, 8855 Germantown Avenue 8 pm, Saturday, October 13, 2012 in Philadelphia: Trinity Center for Urban Life, 22nd & Spruce Streets 3 pm, Sunday, October 14, 2012 in Wilmington: Sts. Andrew & Matthew Church, 719 Shipley Street Music in the Germanic towns, courts and cathedrals throughout the 16th century virtually exploded in compositional variety, sophistication and style. So did the numbers, sizes and qualities of instruments available to the Pfeiffern, the wind players who populated the professional musical ensembles of the day. Together, these two trajectories merged in German lands to produce perhaps the richest, most timbrally effluent period in Renaissance Europe. Visual testimony to this fact is stunningly evident as well, beginning with the vivid illustrations of instruments in Sebastian Virdung’s Musica Getutscht of 1511, continuing in the brilliant depictions from the festival wagons in Maximilian I’s triumphal parades, and finally in the famous representations of instruments in the Theatrum Instrumentarum of Michael Praetorius – a wealth of testimony to the vibrancy of the musical worlds throughout the Germanic regions. Ludwig Senfl, Heinrich Isaac, Caspar Othmayr, Roland di Lassus and others will make appearances, but the instruments, coupled with the artwork, will be the stars, including full consorts of shawms, dulcians, recorders, krumhorns, together with sackbuts, bagpipes, lutes and harps and percussion. Visual and aural – those are the two dimensions that will merge in this concert to produce a sensual feast for eyes and ears!
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CONCERT 2: HOLIDAYS 2012Fröhliche Weihnachten!
8 pm, Friday, December 21, 2012 in Chestnut Hill:
Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, 8855 Germantown Avenue 8 pm, Saturday, December 22, 2012 in Philadelphia: Trinity Center for Urban Life, 22nd & Spruce Streets 3 pm, Sunday, December 23, 2012 in Wilmington: Sts. Andrew & Matthew Church, 719 Shipley Street “Nothin’ says lovin’ like somethin’ from the oven!” or so the jingle went. Perhaps, but nothing says Christmas like the plethora of well-known chorales, hymns, motets and party music of the season from the pens of composers in Renaissance Germany, including Johann Walther, Jakob Regnart, Isaac Posch, Johann Eccard, Adam Gumpelzhaimer, and of course Michael Praetorius. Captivating and dynamic whether in familiar, well-loved settings or in some of the many well-nuanced, intriguing variants, this treasure trove of tuneful works, both sacred and secular, can’t fail to engage and entertain. Laura Heimes will do her own captivating in soloistic flights and in
consort with Piffaro’s many winds and strings. Join us and let this musical banquet enhance all your own seasonal celebrations! |
