Houston Early Music

From Jonathan Saville, San Diego Reader

… The group’s latest program, Mirie it is, presented them with difficulties of a special kind. A great deal of medieval French music has come down to us with both words and tune, and to realize it in a modern performance what is needed is an informed feeling for the style and an ability to improvise historically suitable accompaniments and embellishments. The Fortune’s Wheel musicians are exceptionally good at this, neither too bold nor too cautious, but with a wonderful air of spontaneity and freedom.

… more

Mirie it is                                                             c.1225
Instrumental                                                        traditional Scottish tune
Edi beo þu hevene queenë                                  pre-1300
 
Ave celi regina virginum                                      14th century
Ave mundi rosa          
 
Estampie from Robertsbridge Codex                       c.1360
 
Ar ne kuth ich sorghe non                                    c.1270
Fuwëles in the frith                                              c.1270
Man mei longe him liues wene                             pre-1250
Bryd one brere                                                     c.1300
Solaris ardor romulis                                            mid-14th century
 
The hymns by St. Godric                                     c.1215
            Criƒt and ƒainte Marie
            Sainte Marie virgine
            Sainte Nicholaes
 
Worldes bliƒƒ, have god day                              c.1280
Virgo salvavit                                                      14th century
 
Stand wel moðer under rode (dialogue)              early and mid-14th century     
English dance                                                     arr. Kammen/Mealy
On Yooles night (carol)                                      mid-14th century
 
Stantipes (14th century dance tunes)                  arr. Mealy/Kammen
In secreit place—text by William Dunbar,          arr.  Kammen
    c.1460–c.1520

4:00 PM, Sun., Jan.13, 2008
Trinity Episcopal Church, 1015 Holman (at Main) [map]
Pre-concert lecture, 3:00 PM
Tickets: 713-432-1744

MIRIE IT IS – A Musical Glimpse of Medieval England

Houston Early Music will present the Boston-based Fortune’s Wheel with Mirie it Is–A Glimpse of Medieval England at 4:00 pm, Sunday, January 13, 2008 at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1015 Holman (at Main). Noted for performing “with a wonderful air of spontaneity and freedom” (The San Diego Reader), Fortune’s Wheel will present a concert of most of the surviving vernacular treasures from the once vast, now largely lost repertoire of the English Middle Ages.

Fortune’s Wheel is a spirited collaboration of four distinguished early-music performers—vocalists Lydia Heather Knutson and Aaron Sheehan, and instrumentalists Shira Kammen & Robert Mealy performing on vielle (medieval fiddle) and harp. Devoted to rediscovering the riches of medieval musical traditions, the ensemble made its debut at the 1996 International Festival of Early Music in Mexico City, where critics acclaimed the group’s “style, diction, tuning, perfect balance, and total engagement with the music.” Since then, the ensemble has been presented by early music concert series in San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego, Tijuana, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Houston, Jackson, Tucson, Columbus, Cambridge, and Duke University. They have also appeared at the Boston Early Music Festival, the Berkeley Early Music Festival, the Amherst Early Music Festival, The Cloisters and the Frick Collection in New York City, Yale University’s Collection of Musical Instruments, and many other series.

Fortune’s Wheel released its first CD, Pastourelle, on Dorian Recordings. Website www.fortuneswheel.org

Prior to the concert, at 3:00 pm, ensemble member Robert Mealy will give a preconcert talk discussing the music to be performed on the program.

Tickets are $30 for general admission, $25 for seniors, $10 for students, under 15 free. Tickets may be purchased at the door or by calling 713-432-1744.

Houston Early Music wishes to call your attention to an upcoming musical event in the Houston community:

From the Texas Toot site:

17th Annual Renaissance Polyphony Weekend Music to be prepared and performed: Missa Ave Maris Stella of Josquin des Pres January 25-27, 2008

Continue reading…

A generous supporter of Houston Early Music

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Help Houston Early Music “Go Green” and
Receive 2 Free Tickets to a Concert

As easy as 1-2-3!

1. Send your name, postal mailing address, and concert choice to GoGreen@HoustonEarlyMusic.org
2. We will add you to our email list for concert reminders in place of post cards
3. Your tickets will be at the Will Call desk at your chosen concert.

Houston Early Music wants to keep you better informed about our programs and also save printing and mailing pre-concert postcard reminders. If you subscribe to our email newsletter in place of postal mail, you save us expenses and reduce environmental waste. To show our gratitude, we will give you one pair of tickets to a future Houston Early Music concert. Send an email including your name, postal mailing address, and concert choice to GoGreen@HoustonEarlyMusic.org We will place you on our Houston Early Music News email list in place of sending postal mail outs. Your free tickets will be waiting for you at the “Will Call” desk at your chosen concert.

You benefit in other ways, too: our email newsletter contains more information than we can put on a postcard and gives you background on the artists, program, and other events. We will continue to mail you annual concert and subscription forms at the beginning of each season.

This offer is good for both new and current email list subscribers, whether or not you are on our postal mailing list .You don’t have to be a season ticket subscriber. It is limited to one pair of tickets per postal address. If you previously accepted our offer to “go green”, let us know and we will be pleased to provide you a pair of free tickets. And if you want receive our email newsletter and still receive the concert postcards, just let us know.

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FORTUNE’S WHEEL

MIRIE IT IS – A Glimpse of Medieval England

From the rough vigor of folk music to the refined sophistication of rarely-heard polyphony, Fortune’s Wheel presents most of the surviving vernacular treasurers from the once vast, now largely lost repertoire of the English Middle Ages.

http://www.fortuneswheel.org/

“Fortune’s Wheel takes its medieval music seriously and then transforms the music at hand and voice into living, breathing art”
—The Cleveland Plain Dealer

Houston Early Music wishes to call your attention to the following program:

		Mercury Baroque and Houston Chamber Choir present Messiah Friday December 14, 2007 at 7:00 pm Wortham Center, Cullen TheaterGet into the spirit of the holidays when Mercury Baroque and the Houston Chamber Choir present Handel’s Messiah.This is a rare opportunity for Houston audiences to hear the entire version of the work, as well as the beloved “Hallelujah” chorus, on period instruments as it was played when it was first performed. Immediately after the concert, the audience is invited to a holiday party with food, drink, and a silent and live auction. The annual event is a wonderful place to meet Antoine Plante and the musicians and to bid on an amazing selection of items. The holiday fundraiser benefits Mercury Baroque’s programming and educational outreach efforts.Ana Treviño-Godfrey, Soprano Gerrod Pagenkopf, Counter- Tenor Karim Sulayman, Tenor Paul Rowe, Bass Antoine Plante, Conductor   Tickets $32 to $59 (Holiday Party included in ticket price)Buy Tickets online at www.mercurybaroque.org and enter the promo code FOM when prompted to get a 15% discount, or call 713-533-0080.

Julianne and another of the ensemble taped an interview on KUHF this morning for broadcast at 3pm today.

Christ Church is the Cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas

We are located at 1117 Texas Avenue in Downtown Houston.

MAP

Parking
The Cathedral Parking Garage on San Jacinto between Texas and Prairie provides free parking when you are attending events or meetings at the Cathedral. Please inform the parking attendant. Click here for a map. Free street parking is also available on Sundays.

713-222-2593 or  office@christchurchcathedral.org