Of all the holidays in our western culture, Christmas, more than any other, transcends its religious origins and implications.  It has become for almost all of us a time to celebrate; an opportunity to rejoice.  Thus it is not surprising that Christmas is the inspiration for an unequalled wealth of musical composition, both vocal and instrumental, secular and non-secular. This body of literature spans all periods of musical history, from the Middle Ages to the present.  The “spirit” of Christmas has become such a part of our lives, that the month of December sees easily twice as many concerts as any other month of the year, for the inherent festive quality of music-making has become synonymous with celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.  It is in this “spirit” that we offer “IN DULCI JUBILO”, a concert of vocal and instrumental works from the 16th to 18th-centuries, some with obvious references to the Holiday, others with less direct connections, and one work (Concerto in D major) by Vivaldi , that has nothing at all to do with Christmas and with which we open our program.

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AULOS ENSEMBLE, with JULIANE BAIRD, SOPRANO

7:30 pm, Tues., Dec.. 11, 2007
Christ Church Cathedral
1117 Texas Avenue

In Dulci Jubilo

Concerto in D major, RV 94                                Antonio Vivaldi
  Allegro-Largo-Allegro
    
Traditional Carols
  "In Dulci Jubilo"
  "Coventry Carol"
  "Shepherds Shake off your drousy Sleep"

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AULOS ENSEMBLE with JULIANNE BAIRD, soprano

NOTE EARLY START TIME!  

7:30 p.m., Tue., Dec. 11, 2007
Christ Church Cathedral  
1117 Texas Avenue

Join us for a special holiday reception in the Great Hall following the concert!

Tickets:  713-432-1744

Christopher Krueger, flauto traverso
Marc Schachman, baroque oboe
Linda Quan, baroque violin
Myron Lutzke, baroque cello
Arthur Haas, harpsichord
with
Julianne Baird, soprano

Houston Early Music’s holiday offering, In Dulci Jubilo, features a return visit by New York’s Aulos Ensemble with soprano Julianne Baird at 7:30 pm, Tuesday, December 11, 2007 at Christ Church Cathedral, 1117 Texas Avenue.  Ms. Baird and the ensemble (baroque violin, cello, harpsichord, baroque flute and oboe) will perform vocal and instrumental works from the 16th to 18th centuries. In addition to traditional carols, the program includes arias by J.S. Bach, French noëls and a concerto by Vivaldi.

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Rebel

8:00 p.m., Friday
Oct. 19, 2007
St. Philip Presbyterian Church
4807 San Filipe

7:00 p.m. Free Pre-concert Lecture
John Moran, Rebel

Tickets: 713-432-1744

Observing its 40th anniversary season this year, Houston Early Music opens its season with a return visit by the acclaimed New York City-based baroque ensemble, Rebel (pronounced Re-BEL). The program L’estro Armonico: Diverse Trumpet and Violin Concerti features works by Telemann, Valentini, Ragazzi, Stradella and Vivaldi. The eleven member ensemble includes four violins, two violas, cello, bass, theorbo, harpsichord and baroque trumpet. The performance is 8:00 pm, Friday, October 19, 2007 at St. Philip Presbyterian Church, 4807 San Filipe.

Hailed by the New York Times as “sophisticated and beguiling” and praised by the Los Angeles Times for their “astonishingly vital music-making,” Rebel has earned an impressive international reputation, enchanting diverse audiences by their unique style and their virtuosic, highly expressive and provocative approach to the Baroque and Classical repertoire.

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Overview of Houston Early Music’s 2007/2008 Concert Program

• Rebel 19 October
• Aulos Ensembe with Julianne Baird 11 December
• Fortune’s Wheel 13 January
• Baltimore Consort 23 February
• Holloway, Linden, Mortensen 11 April
• Lucidarium 4 May

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Saturday, May 12, 2007 at 11 am
EX UMBRIS
The Ballad of Count Claros
Latham Hall, Christ Church Cathedral
1117 Texas

“Conde Claros” is a 15th century Spanish romanceros which tells the story of noble Count Claros who falls in love with the daughter of the king, the princess Clara Niña. She also loves him and they decide to marry each other in secret. A wicked servant learns of their marriage, and tells the king. When the king learns of it he is furious, and orders the arrest of Count Claros, who tries to flee, but he is captured at the gates of the city. All the court agrees on his punishment: death. The count is taken to the main square, where the scaffold is set up which will end his life. The people all come out to watch, but at the last minute the princess Clara Niña comes running to try to save her beloved’s life.

Ex Umbris presents this tale of love and betrayal with songs and dances heard in the streets of 16th century Spain, Children in the audience join in the singing and dancing. Singing in Spanish and English to the sound of the vihuela, harp, guitar, viol, recorder, flute, shawm, sackbut, and pipe and tabor, Ex Umbris evokes the musical richness of Renaissance Spain.

Ex Umbris

8:00 p.m., Saturday, May 12, 2007
First Evangelical Lutheran Church
1311 Holman (at Caroline) | Map

7:00 p.m. free pre-concert talk.

CHACONA: Dancing in the Shadow of the Cross

For the final concert of Houston Early Music’s season, the period-instrument ensemble Ex Umbris will perform Chacona: Dancing in the Shadow of the Cross. The program of songs, ballads and dances from Spanish dominions at the time of the Inquisition includes Arab and Jewish melodies and a portion of “The Ballad of Count Claros.”

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Monica Huggett, baroque violin
Richard Savino, theorbo, guitar
William Skeen, baroque cello

8:00 p.m., Friday
April 20, 2007

7:00 p.m. pre-concert lecture

Christ Church Cathedral
1117 Texas Avenue

VIRTUOSI D’ITALIA

Houston Early Music will present British baroque violin virtuoso Monica Huggett, theorbist/guitarist Richard Savino and baroque cellist William Skeen in Virtuosi d’ Italia on Friday, April 20, 8:00 pm at Christ Church Cathedral, 1117 Texas Avenue. The program of Italian solo violin music from seventeenth through the early nineteenth centuries includes the works of Arcangelo Corelli, Dario Castello and Niccolo Paganini.

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Les Septs Sauts

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TAPESTRY with Medieval Strings

Three Weddings and a Funeral

• Directions and Map

NOTE *** NOTE *** NOTE

The original site for this concert has changed. The new site is Trinity Episcopal Church, 1015 Holman (at Main).  The time and date (Sunday, February 11 at 4:00 pm) remain the same.  See letter to subscribers

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