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Friday, March 2: LA MORRA Tears Of A Lion: A Secret Concert For Pope Leo X

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HISPANIC HERITAGE SERIES
Friday, March 2, 2012
LA MORRA
Tears Of A Lion: A Secret Concert For Pope Leo X

Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church, 7:30 p.m.
6221 Main Street, Houston, TX 77030

Pre-concert talk at 6:45 p.m.
La Morra ensemble members

Houston Early Music is pleased to introduce this exciting young Swiss ensemble. While remembered for his extravagant lifestyle, Pope Leo X (1513-1521) was a noteworthy patron of arts and a man of great sensitivity for music. Himself a competent composer, Leo X clearly had a weakness for good musicians and his rise to the peak of ecclesiastical power brought about a true (albeit short) Golden Age for many of them. Follow LA MORRA to Pope’s private chamber for an intimate concert performed by the best of the pontiff’s “secret musicians.” Music by Pope Leo, Tromboncine, Encina, Francisco de la Torre, …  Madly beautiful music, performed on harp, fiddle, flutes, lute and vihuela de manna.

Listen to recordings

Read the Press Release

Watch a video

Press Release: La Morra debuts in U.S. with “Tears of a Lion”

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 La Morra debuts in U.S. with “Tears of a Lion”

Download Press Release: HEM-PR-LaMorraFINAL

Houston Early Music welcomes Swiss early music ensemble to Texas

 

HOUSTON, TX – January 25, 2012 – Swiss early music ensemble La Morra will visit Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church in Houston on Friday, March 2, at 7:30 p.m., as part of its first U.S. tour, which will take it to six cities across the country. The 12-year-old group will present “Lacrime di Leo (Tears of a Lion): A Secret Concert for Pope Leo X” on Houston Early Music’s season, treating audiences to little-heard gems from the early Italian Renaissance.

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“All I want for Christmas is a sackbut.” ~ Sara Hessel, KMFA Music Director

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A review of the Dufay Collective concert – by Sara Hessel, , music director and producer of “Ancient Voices” on Austin’s KMFA 89.5.

http://classical895.wordpress.com/2011/12/22/all-i-want-for-christmas-is-a-sackbut-sara-hessel-kmfa-music-director/ 

…I couldn’t believe my luck when I heard that the UK-based Dufay Collective would be performing in Houston! I’ve been a fan of their spirited performances for years, and have played their excellent recordings on Ancient Voices many times. Their program of 16th- and 17th-century English music was sheer joy to listen to. Vocalist Vivien Ellis seemed to have stepped right out of one of Henry VIII’s Christmas revels with her clarion tone, excellent diction and storyteller’s sense. Especially memorable was an anonymous ballad called “To drive the cold winter away,” and the very moving “Thys endere nyghyt,” gorgeously arranged by director William Lyons. It was fascinating to watch the players switch effortlessly from one instrument to another: Mr. Lyons played flute, recorder, curtal (an ancestor of the bassoon) and bagpipes!…

Press Release: Houston Early Music to feature harpsichordist Richard Egarr, February 3

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Download Press Release: HEM_PR-EgarrFINAL

Houston Early Music to feature harpsichordist Richard Egarr, February 3

 HOUSTON, TX – December 19, 2011 – Houston Early Music continues its 2011-2012 season with a performance by British harpsichordist and conductor Richard Egarr on Friday, Feb. 3. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at the First Unitarian Universalist Church, 5200 Fannin in Houston, TX 77004. Egarr will also offer a pre-concert talk at 6:45 p.m.

 For the program, entitled The Harpsichord’s Golden Century, Egarr will present a fresh look at works of 17th century composers Louis Couperin and Johann Jakob Froberger, who were known to be great friends and colleagues.

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Give Early Music for Christmas

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Looking for a great last-minute gift for a music lover? From now until the end of the year (Dec. 31 2011) you can pre-purchase the 2012-2013 season of Houston Early Music. We can’t tell you exactly what will be on the program, but you can expect fine concerts similar to those you have enjoyed in the past. And you will lock in the current price.  Continue reading →

Chronicle: Dufay brings music from the past to the present

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Dufay brings music from the past to the present

By COLIN EATOCK
Published 10:46 a.m., Friday, December 9, 2011

England’s Dufay Collective has been exploring Medieval and Renaissance music since 1987. In those years, they’ve released 10 recordings and have performed all over the world, from Morocco to Australia – but never before in Texas.

That will change Sunday when Houston Early Music brings the group to town to present To Drive the Cold Winter Away – Christmas Revelry in Renaissance England at Christ Church Cathedral.

Earlier this week, Dufay Collective artistic director William Lyons spoke from London about his ensemble, the program they’ll present in Houston – and his experiences in the film business.

Q:What can you say about the music you’ll be performing?

 

continue reading at: 

http://www.chron.com/life/article/Dufay-brings-music-from-the-past-to-the-present-2391786.php#photo-1920576