Tag Archives: Baroque

Program and Notes for Ensemble Caprice in “Music of Paradise and Hell” on March 5th

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Fri., Mar. 5, 2010, 8:00PM
Pre-concert talk at 7:15 p.m

ENSEMBLE CAPRICE

Music of Paradise and Hell

Christ the King Lutheran Church
2353 Rice Blvd

Houston Early Music presents Ensemble Caprice in Music of Paradise and Hell on March 5th at 8pm at Christ the King Lutheran Church, featuring a dazzling selection of 17th century works on recorders, viola da gamba, Baroque guitar and percussion. The performance coincides with the Society of Seventeenth-Century Music annual conference at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music.

“The co-artistic directors, Matthias Maute and Sophie Larivièreare, are simply phenomenal players, among the best in the world,” says Nancy Ellis, Houston Early Music artistic director. “Their virtuosity, along with that of the other ensemble musicians, has earned Caprice a much-deserved reputation as one of the top early music groups on the international scene.” The ensemble also includes such outstanding musicians as Susie Napper on viola da gamba, David Jacques on Baroque guitar, and percussionist Ziya Tabassian.

Originally founded in Germany, the now Montreal-based Ensemble Caprice aims for innovation as they head into their 20th anniversary season. “We try to find Baroque music that does not sound Baroque,” says Maute, who plays the recorder and Baroque flute, and composes. “There is so much music in the 17th and 18th century that is off the beaten tracks, that it gives us great pleasure to throw these unusual styles – like Baroque gypsy music – into our program.”

Music of Paradise and Hell features music by such 17th century legends as Andrea Falconieri, Francesco Turini, Marco Uccellini, Francesco Corbetta and Johann Heinrich Schmelzer. “We are all somewhere in between heaven and hell, and we like to present programs that relate to us as contemporaries,” says Maute. “Needless to say, the composers of the 17th century had a lot to say on this subject.” Contrasts abound as well in considering the pairing of Andrea Falconieri and Johann Heinrich Schmelzer. “They never worked together, but when you witness the meeting of their music, it is as if John Lennon and Paul McCartney started joint song writing again,” says Maute. “It is ‘reality music,’ full of joy, conflict, dissonances, arguments, entertainment and sadness.”

Matthias Maute will give a pre-concert talk at 7:15 p.m.

Venue

Christ the King Lutheran Church, 2353 Rice Blvd., Houston, TX 77005

Limited free parking is available on the lot west of Christ the King Lutheran Church. Ample parking is available for $1.00 (credit card only) across the street at Rice University’s stadium parking lot on the southeast corner of Rice & Greenbriar.

Tickets

Purchase online

and at the door: $35 for general admission, $30 for seniors, and $10 for students (with student ID.) Free admission for children under 15.

PROGRAM NOTES AND ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES

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Newsletter 10 Feb. 2010

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http://www.houstonearlymusic.org/archives/810

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Houston Early Music

presenting the world’s finest period ensembles and soloists … bringing to life music from the Middle Ages through the Renaissance to the Baroque and Classical periods. Experience with us early music played on original instruments, by musicians reviving performances of the past.
In this Newsletter:

  • Next concert:  Ensemble Caprice
  • Concert reminders via email only
  • Purchase tickets for remainder of season online Continue reading →

Press Release: Ensemble Caprice

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HOUSTON EARLY MUSIC

P. O. Box 271193

Houston, TX 77277-1193

HoustonEarlyMusic.org

Media contact:

Susan Love Fitts, 936-597-8825

susanlovefitts@consolidated.net

Houston Early Music presents Baroque innovators, Ensemble Caprice

Music of Paradise and Hell, March 5, 2010

HOUSTON, TX— January 12, 2010 – Houston Early Music presents Ensemble Caprice in Music of Paradise and Hell on March 5th at 8pm at Christ the King Lutheran Church, featuring a dazzling selection of 17th century works on recorders, viola da gamba, Baroque guitar and percussion. The performance coincides with the Society of Seventeenth-Century Music annual conference at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. Continue reading →

Concert Reminder: THE ROSE ENSEMBLE Celebremos el Niño – A Mexican Baroque Christmas

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http://www.houstonearlymusic.org/archives/778

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Houston Early Music

presenting the world’s finest period ensembles and soloists … bringing to life music from the Middle Ages through the Renaissance to the Baroque and Classical periods. Experience with us early music played on original instruments, by musicians reviving performances of the past.

Coming up on Sunday, Dec. 13

Houston Early Music and The Religion and the Arts Council, Christ Church Cathedral, present:

THE ROSE ENSEMBLE

Celebremos el Niño – A Mexican Baroque Christmas

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Newsletter 6 November 2009

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http://www.houstonearlymusic.org/archives/754

Please share this email with friends who may be interested in our programs.

Houston Early Music

presenting the world’s finest period ensembles and soloists … bringing to life music from the Middle Ages through the Renaissance to the Baroque and Classical periods. Experience with us early music played on original instruments, by musicians reviving performances of the past.
In this Newsletter:

  • Next concert: Rose Ensemble, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009, 5:00 p.m.
  • Concert reminders via email only
  • Purchase tickets for remainder of season online

Next Concert:

Sun., Dec. 13, 2009, 5:00PM

THE ROSE ENSEMBLE

Celebremos el Niño – A Mexican Baroque Christmas

Christ Church Cathedral
1117 Texas Ave.

Pre-concert talk at 4:15PM

Ample free parking is available in the Cathedral Parking Garage across San Jacinto Street (northbound) opposite the Cathedral.

Houston Early Music presents The Rose Ensemble in Celebremos el Niño – A Mexican Baroque Christmas on Sunday, December 13 at 5:00 p.m., at Christ Church Cathedral as part an annual tradition, the Hispanic Heritage Series. The internationally known group brings a rare collection of early Mexican music, featuring over two centuries of festive Christmas dances, ballads and villancicos from the great cathedrals of Puebla and Mexico City. “This is remarkable music that is not heard that often,” says Nancy Ellis, artistic director of Houston Early Music. “We are delighted to bring The Rose Ensemble to Houston for the very first time.”

Founded in 1996 by artistic director Jordan Sramek, The Rose Ensemble is a recipient of the 2005 Chorus America Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence and a first-place winner in the sacred music category at the 2007 Tolosa International Choral Competition. The group specializes in bringing to audiences a repertoire that spans over 1,000 years in more than 25 languages. In addition, they are well-known for their research in Hawaiian, Swedish, Middle Eastern and American vocal traditions. “Why do what everyone else is doing?” asks Sramek. “We aim to explore the lesser-known areas of early music.” In addition to being known for their rich research, the Minneapolis-based group is also famous for its energetic performances. “We can be simultaneously scholarly and entertaining,” quips Sramek. “And we have had the good fortune to work with some of the best musicologists of our time who have created wonderful transcriptions for us.”

Celebremos el Niño – A Mexican Baroque Christmas provides a perfect example of the kind of far reaching programming that characterizes the Ensemble’s approach. “On a historical level, things can get really exciting. These composers saw Mexico as an open playing field. With fewer restrictions from the Catholic church, we see more compositional experimentation. We see the use of native dance rhythms in the liturgy to entice people to come to church. Seventeenth-century street and dance music became fashionable, even in high mass, during the Mexican Baroque era. Spanish composers used the vivid rhythms and energy of the xácara to drive forward the plots of operas and to introduce theatrical excitement into church music,” says Sramek. “Villancicos even depict the song and dance of African slaves in the Spanish colonies.”

The group of ten singers and three instrumentalists tour nationally and internationally. “We are excited to bring this joyous program to Texas,” says Sramek. “We are always delighted to perform in a city such as Houston that has such a substantial early music scene.”

Artistic director Jordan Sramek will present a pre-concert talk at 4:15 p.m.

Tickets

Tickets may be purchased through our new online ticket service.

Prices at the door are $35 for general admission, $30 for seniors, and $10 for students (with student ID.) Free admission for children under 15.
NOTE NOTE NOTE

This season we will send our concert reminders via email only. We will not be mailing postcards. Please be sure your current email address is on our list.

  • Click to subscribe to our email list

    • If you have friends interested in our programs, please be sure they also know of this change and ask them to join the list.

    If you don’t use email, please let us know by phone 713-432-1744 or mail at Houston Early Music, P.O. Box 271193, Houston, TX 77277-1193. We will accommodate your needs.

    Houston Early Music Online Ticket Service

    Houston Early Music is pleased to announce that you can now purchase tickets to our performances online, using major credit cards.

    Contact

    Houston Early Music
    P.O. Box 271193 Houston TX 77277-1193
    Phone 713-432-1744
    email info@HoustonEarlyMusic.org
    Web http://www.HoustonEarlyMusic.org

    tca_black_h

    NEAlogoTAGLINEbw

    Houston Early Music is funded in part by grants from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, the Texas Commission on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
    Please make sure that info@HoustonEarlyMusic.org is registered in your contacts list or with your spam filter to ensure that delivery will not be blocked. If you wish to modify or cancel your email subscription, please see the links at the bottom of this email. For new subscriptions visit http://www.houstonearlymusic.org/lists/

    Press Release: Celebrate the Holidays in Mexican Baroque style with The Rose Ensemble

    Posted on by

    HOUSTON EARLY MUSIC
    P. O. Box 271193
    Houston, TX 77277-1193

    HoustonEarlyMusic.org

    Media contact:

    Susan Love Fitts, 936-597-8825

    susanlovefitts@consolidated.net

    Celebrate the Holidays in Mexican Baroque style with The Rose Ensemble

    Houston Early Music’s Hispanic Heritage Series spotlights early music of the Americas

    HOUSTON, TX— November 5, 2009 – Houston Early Music presents The Rose Ensemble in Celebremos el Niño – A Mexican Baroque Christmas on Sunday, December 13 at 5:00 p.m., at Christ Church Cathedral as part an annual tradition, the Hispanic Heritage Series. The internationally known group brings a rare collection of early Mexican music, featuring over two centuries of festive Christmas dances, ballads and villancicos from the great cathedrals of Puebla and Mexico City. “This is remarkable music that is not heard that often,” says Nancy Ellis, artistic director of Houston Early Music. “We are delighted to bring The Rose Ensemble to Houston for the very first time.”

    Continue reading →

    Concert Reminder: RED PRIEST: A Nightmare in Venice

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    If you have difficulty reading this in email, please see our web site
    http://www.houstonearlymusic.org/archives/700

    Please share this email with friends who may be interested in our programs.

     

    Houston Early Music

    presenting the world’s finest period ensembles and soloists … bringing to life music from the Middle Ages through the Renaissance to the Baroque and Classical periods. Experience with us early music played on original instruments, by musicians reviving performances of the past.

    Just in Time for Halloween!

    Remember Houston Early Music will present

    RED PRIEST: A Nightmare in Venice

    Tue., Oct. 27, 2009, 7:30PM
    Trinity Episcopal Church
    1015 Holman (at Main) Map

    Pre-concert talk at 6:45 p.m.

    Halloween treats (no tricks) at intermission!

     

    Watch RED PRIEST on Video

     

    The season launches with the notorious renegade of the recorder, Piers Adams, and his famed UK-based group, Red Priest, presenting Nightmare in Venice, just in time for Halloween, on Tuesday, October 27, 7:30 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1015 Holman at Main.

    Adams, a rock star of the early music genre, is known for bending the rules and for high theatrics. The program includes Vivaldi’s Nightmare Concerto, Tartini’s Devil’s Trill sonata, Masque music by Robert Johnson, Gluck’s Dance of the Blessed Spirits, Leclair’s Demon Airs and Red Priest’s own Fantasia on Corelli’s La Follia. “Expect some Halloween flavor,” says Adams. “Taking Vivaldi’s spooky and dramatic concerto La Notte as a place to begin, we will explore the myriad themes of fantasy, myth and horror in the Baroque, not forgetting that the word ‘baroque’ itself means strange, bizarre and irregular.”

    Some of the fun ingredients in the Red Priest mix include creating their own original arrangements, incorporating stylistic elements from the world and folk music realms, bringing out stories and drama in the music, and wildly colorful costumes.

    Adams will give a pre-concert talk at 6:45 p.m.

    Houston Early Music will treat you to nutritionally-incorrect Halloween candy during intermission.

     

    Tickets

    Tickets to RED PRIEST may be purchased through our new online ticket service. Your tickets will be held in your name at the Will Call desk.

    Prices at the door are $35 for general admission, $30 for seniors, and $10 for students (with student ID.) Free admission for children under 15.

    NOTE NOTE NOTE

    This season we will send our concert reminders via email only. We will not be mailing postcards. Please be sure your current email address is on our list.

    • Click to subscribe to our email list

        • If you have friends interested in our programs, please be sure they also know of this change and ask them to join the list.

        If you don’t use email, please let us know by phone 713-432-1744 or mail at Houston Early Music, P.O. Box 271193, Houston, TX 77277-1193. We will accommodate your needs.

        Contact

        Houston Early Music
        P.O. Box 271193 Houston TX 77277-1193
        Phone 713-432-1744
        email info@HoustonEarlyMusic.org
        Web http://www.HoustonEarlyMusic.org

        tca_black_h

        NEAlogoTAGLINEbw

        Houston Early Music is funded in part by grants from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, the Texas Commission on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
        Please make sure that info@HoustonEarlyMusic.org is registered in your contacts list or with your spam filter to ensure that delivery will not be blocked. If you wish to modify or cancel your email subscription, please see the links at the bottom of this email. For new subscriptions visit http://www.houstonearlymusic.org/lists/

        Newsletter 14 October 2009

        Posted on by

        If you have difficulty reading this in email, please see our web site
        http://www.houstonearlymusic.org/archives/625

        Please share this email with friends who may be interested in our programs.

         

        Houston Early Music

        presenting the world’s finest period ensembles and soloists … bringing to life music from the Middle Ages through the Renaissance to the Baroque and Classical periods. Experience with us early music played on original instruments, by musicians reviving performances of the past.

        In this Newsletter:

        • Concert reminders via email only
        • Next concert: RED PRIEST, Tuesday 27 October
        • New Online Ticket Service 

        NOTE NOTE NOTE

        This season we will send our concert reminders via email only. We will not be mailing postcards. Please be sure your current email address is on our list.

        • Click to subscribe to our email list

            • If you have friends interested in our programs, please be sure they also know of this change and ask them to join the list.

            If you don’t use email, please let us know by phone 713-432-1744 or mail at Houston Early Music, P.O. Box 271193, Houston, TX 77277-1193. We will accommodate your needs.

            Next Concert:

            RED PRIEST: A Nightmare in Venice

            Tue., Oct. 27, 2009, 7:30PM
            Trinity Episcopal Church
            1015 Holman (at Main) Map

            Pre-concert talk at 6:45 p.m.

            Known as The Rolling Stones of early music!

            The season launches with the notorious renegade of the recorder, Piers Adams, and his famed UK-based group, Red Priest, presenting Nightmare in Venice, just in time for Halloween, on Tuesday, October 27, 7:30 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1015 Holman at Main.

            Adams, a rock star of the early music genre, is known for bending the rules and for high theatrics. “We don’t set out to cause trouble, honestly,” quips Adams, Red Priest’s artistic director. “But we do like to shake off all of those early music straitjackets and preconceptions, so that we’re no longer bound by a fear of what the composer—long dead as he is—might think.”

            According to Houston Early Music artistic director Nancy Ellis, Red Priest is a bit like early music gone wild. “They are known for being way out there,” says Ellis. “They will most definitely add some spice to our programming.” The program includes Vivaldi’s Nightmare Concerto, Tartini’s Devil’s Trill sonata, Masque music by Robert Johnson, Gluck’s Dance of the Blessed Spirits, Leclair’s Demon Airs and Red Priest’s own Fantasia on Corelli’s La Follia. “Expect some Halloween flavor,” says Adams. “Taking Vivaldi’s spooky and dramatic concerto La Notte as a place to begin, we will explore the myriad themes of fantasy, myth and horror in the Baroque, not forgetting that the word ‘baroque’ itself means strange, bizarre and irregular.” Red Priest really lets it go in Corelli’s La Follia. “Using this famous ground as a starting point, and Corelli’s variations as a loose structure, we pass through many musical styles from gypsy to Indian to modern jazz,” adds Adams.

            Some of the fun ingredients in the Red Priest mix include creating their own original arrangements, incorporating stylistic elements from the world and folk music realms, bringing out stories and drama in the music, and wildly colorful costumes. Adams has been referred to as early music’s version of The Rolling Stones, and he doesn’t mind the comparison in the least. “We definitely want to shake things up,” says Adams. “We want to find the most eye- and ear-catching ways to present what we consider to be some of the most fantastic music ever written to the widest possible audience, even if that does mean stretching the boundaries a little.”

            Adams will give a pre-concert talk at 6:45 p.m.

            Tickets

            Tickets to RED PRIEST may be purchased through our new online ticket service.

            Prices at the door are $35 for general admission, $30 for seniors, and $10 for students (with student ID.) Free admission for children under 15.

            Houston Early Music Online Ticket Service

            Houston Early Music is pleased to announce that you can now purchase tickets to our performances on our web site, using major credit cards. At this time, the first concert Red Priest is available for sale. In a few weeks we will add the remaining concerts to this service.

            Contact

            Houston Early Music
            P.O. Box 271193 Houston TX 77277-1193
            Phone 713-432-1744
            email info@HoustonEarlyMusic.org
            Web http://www.HoustonEarlyMusic.org

            tca_black_h

            NEAlogoTAGLINEbw

            Houston Early Music is funded in part by grants from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, the Texas Commission on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
            Please make sure that info@HoustonEarlyMusic.org is registered in your contacts list or with your spam filter to ensure that delivery will not be blocked. If you wish to modify or cancel your email subscription, please see the links at the bottom of this email. For new subscriptions visit http://www.houstonearlymusic.org/lists/

            RED PRIEST: A Nightmare in Venice, 27 Oct 2009

            Posted on by

            Known as The Rolling Stones of early music!

             

            The season launches with the notorious renegade of the recorder, Piers Adams, and his famed UK-based group, Red Priest, presenting Nightmare in Venice, just in time for Halloween, on Tuesday, October 27, 7:30 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1015 Holman at Main.

            Adams, a rock star of the early music genre, is known for bending the rules and for high theatrics. “We don’t set out to cause trouble, honestly,” quips Adams, Red Priest’s artistic director. “But we do like to shake off all of those early music straitjackets and preconceptions, so that we’re no longer bound by a fear of what the composer—long dead as he is—might think.”

            According to Houston Early Music artistic director Nancy Ellis, Red Priest is a bit like early music gone wild. “They are known for being way out there,” says Ellis. “They will most definitely add some spice to our programming.” The program includes Vivaldi’s Nightmare Concerto, Tartini’s Devil’s Trill sonata, Masque music by Robert Johnson, Gluck’s Dance of the Blessed Spirits, Leclair’s Demon Airs and Red Priest’s own Fantasia on Corelli’s La Follia. “Expect some Halloween flavor,” says Adams. “Taking Vivaldi’s spooky and dramatic concerto La Notte as a place to begin, we will explore the myriad themes of fantasy, myth and horror in the Baroque, not forgetting that the word ‘baroque’ itself means strange, bizarre and irregular.” Red Priest really lets it go in Corelli’s La Follia. “Using this famous ground as a starting point, and Corelli’s variations as a loose structure, we pass through many musical styles from gypsy to Indian to modern jazz,” adds Adams.

            Some of the fun ingredients in the Red Priest mix include creating their own original arrangements, incorporating stylistic elements from the world and folk music realms, bringing out stories and drama in the music, and wildly colorful costumes. Adams has been referred to as early music’s version of The Rolling Stones, and he doesn’t mind the comparison in the least. “We definitely want to shake things up,” says Adams. “We want to find the most eye- and ear-catching ways to present what we consider to be some of the most fantastic music ever written to the widest possible audience, even if that does mean stretching the boundaries a little.”

            Adams will give a pre-concert talk at 6:45 p.m.

            View a short video of Red Priest

            Venue

            Trinity Episcopal Church
            1015 Holman (at Main)
            Houston, TX 77004

            Map

            Tickets

            Tickets to RED PRIEST may be purchased through our new online ticket service.

            Prices at the door are $35 for general admission, $30 for seniors, and $10 for students (with student ID.) Free admission for children under 15.