The season includes the exciting debut of our Emerging Artist Series, highlighting up and coming artists of excellence. We welcome the 

• Read or download the Season Brochure Mini-Brochure-2012-2013
• Purchase Season Tickets to Houston Early Music

Hispanic Heritage Series

Friday, October 12, 2012
EL MUNDO, Richard Savino, Dir.
The Kingdoms of Castille

7:30PM, Venue TBA

Villancico is one of early music’s most popular genres and a specialty of El Mundo. Throughout the 15th-17th centuries, the music of the Spanish colonies of Latin America were wellsprings of cultural sophistication.A very active music scene in cathedrals and the courtly life, combined with the participation of the local populations and their folk music, produced a delightful intersection of elegance and simplicity.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

BALTIMORE CONSORT
Wassail, Wassail
7:30PM, Christ Church Cathedral

Celebrate the Yuletide season with the engaging music of this dynamic group.With their always festive cornucopia of instruments—lute, cittern, viols, crumhorns, recorders, rebec and percussion—this virtuosic ensemble offers old carols and dance tunes from the British Isles, Germany, France, Spain and the New World.

Emerging Artists Series

Tuesday, February 12, 2013
ARMONIA CELESTE
Udite Amanti – Lovers Beware!
7:30PM, Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church

This up-and-coming group specializes in rarely heard music from the Italian Renaissance and early Baroque. In mid-17th-century Rome, the Barberini family was a great supporter of vocal chamber music. The program highlights Roman composers of the period, including Rossi, Carissimi and Cesti. To complete the historical picture, a copy of the famous Barberini harp, made for this prestigious family in 1635, will be played in this concert.

In Collaboration with Da Camera of Houston

Saturday, March 9, 2013
POÈME HARMONIQUE
Venezia dalle Calli ai Palazzi
8:00PM, Cullen Theater, Wortham Center

The ensemble’s Houston debut is presented in collaboration with Da Camera of Houston. Semi- staged in candlelight, the program of works by Claudio Monteverdi, Biagio Marini, Francesco Manelli and Benedetto Ferrari is a celebration of Venice in the Golden Age, when art music and popular forms came together and mingled, before emotion and language were restrained by rules and codes. Receive a significant discount on premium seating in Cullen Theater with your HEM subscription. 

Friday, April 26, 2013

CANÇONIER
The Black Dragon: Music from the time of Vlad Dracula
7:30PM, Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church

The San Francisco-based ensemble’s program features 15th-century music from the time of the infamous Vlad the Impaler, whose tyrannical rule shocked Europe. Ensemble member Shira Kammen is known by many in the area from her early-music performances in Houston. The program features the Lamentation for the Fall of Constantinople by Dufay, French and Italian dance music, German songs, Balkan folk songs, and more.

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Friday, May 4, 2012
TRIO SETTECENTO
The Scottish Play  

Pre-concert talk at 6:45 p.m.
John Mark Rozendaal

Christ the King Lutheran Church, 7:30 p.m.
2353 Rice Boulevard, Houston, TX 77005 see map

Rising star violinist Rachel Barton Pine is joined by acclaimed cellist John Mark Rozendaal and harpsichordist David Schrader in a spirited program of Scottish baroque music including earthy, infectious Hebridean fiddling and the renewed pleasures of poetic works of Scotland’s classical composers. Even the Italian virtuosi Geminiani and Veracini get in on the action with Scottish-themed compositions.

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“Scotland, in the Baroque period, was unique among the regions of Europe,” said Trio Settecento violinist Rachel Barton Pine. Most places separated classical and folk music, but in Scotland there was no such differentiation. “You would have the same guy who was playing in the local musical society orchestra doing Vivaldi concertos and Handel oratorios one night, and then he’d be playing in a barn for a dance the next night. Same instrument.”

This free intermingling allowed for fertile crosspollination between classical and folk music in Scotland, and the Trio Settecento program will showcase that. The group plans to perform fiddle-tune medleys, as well as sonatas by Italian composers Francesco Veracini and Francesco Geminiani and little-known Scottish composers like Thomas Erskine (the Sixth Earl of Kellie) and John Reid, a general in the British army. There will also be what are known as variation sets, essentially sets of variations improvised by a fiddler on a given tune and written down for posterity.

More about the trio

Trio Settecento performs on period instruments in a historically informed manner. Pine plays a violin made in 1770 by Nicola Gagliano and still in its original condition. Bowed-string player John Mark Rozendaal sometimes plays a viola da gamba, but will perform on a Baroque cello in Houston, because the instrument was common in Scottish orchestras and folk bands during the 1700s. Completing the trio, David Schrader will play the harpsichord, though he is also adept on organ, piano and fortepiano.

Pine, Rozendaal, and Schrader first came together as an ensemble in 1996 to record Handel’s complete violin sonatas for Cedille Records. They were not yet known as Trio Settecento, only taking that name 1997, after the release of their successful Handel recording, which became Cedille’s top-selling CD for most of the following decade.

Besides touring throughout the U.S. the group has released three additional CDs. All recorded for Cedille, these comprise a survey of the European Baroque and include An Italian Sojourn (2007), A German Bouquet (2009) and A French Soiree (2011). The trio’s fourth CD of the series, An English Fancy, is planned for release this fall.

More about the ensemble members

Though both Rozendaal and Schrader specialize in early music, Pine is primarily known as a modern violin soloist, who has performed with many of the world’s most prestigious orchestras. A child prodigy, she debuted with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1984 at age 10. Fanfare magazine described her as “one of the rare mainstream performers with a total grasp of Baroque style and embellishment.” On some 20 recordings and in a long touring career, she has delivered repertoire that ranges from medieval to modern in styles as diverse as classical and heavy metal.

 She plays an electric Viper violin with the Chicago thrash-and-doom heavy metal band Earthen Grave. When not performing she oversees the Rachel Barton Pine Foundation, which assists young musicians through projects that include an instrument loan program, career and education grants, providing musical supplies to developing nations and maintaining a library of music by black composers.

 Pine’s interest in Scottish music began in 2001, when the Wildwood Festival in Arkansas invited her to give a Scottish-themed recital. Intrigued by the intimate connection between classical and folk music in the country, she was soon studying Scottish fiddling with the likes of Alasdair Fraser. She released an album of 19^th-century Scottish Romantic music in 2005 and has taught workshops during the last two summers at the Jink & Diddle School of Scottish Fiddling in North Carolina.

 Rozendaal specializes in performing and teaching stringed instrument music from the Baroque and Renaissance eras.  He was founding artistic director of the Chicago Baroque Ensemble and has performed solo and continuo roles with many period-instrument ensembles, including the Newberry Consort, Orpheus Band, Boston Early Music Festival Violin Band, the New York Consort of Viols, Repast Baroque Ensemble and others.        

Schrader has appeared with the Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco, and Colorado Symphony orchestras and at a host of prestigious festivals and music conventions.  He performs regularly with Chicago’s Music of the Baroque, the Newberry Consort and the venerable Bach Week Festival in Evanston, Ill.  He is a founding member of Baroque Band, Chicago’s premier period-instrument orchestra.  

Open to all whether you play the viol already or are just curious about the instrument.

John Mark Rozendaal, noted for his extraordinary abilities on both cello and viola da gamba, will be performing in Houston with his ensemble, Trio Settecento, on Friday May 4, 7:30 through Houston Early Music (more info at www.houstonearlymusic.org) In conjunction with his concert, Viols of Houston will be sponsoring a day of music-making with Mr. Rozendaal the next day, Saturday, May 5. Private lessons, a group class, and a performing masterclass are all in the offering.

The schedule for the day will be:

Morning – individual private lessons

1:00 – 2:30 PM – group session/technique workshop

2:30 – 2:45 – break

2:45 – 3:15 – masterclass

later afternoon – individual private lessons 

The location of the workshop will be St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 3471 Westheimer Road Houston, TX 77027 (note: the Friday concert is at a different location)

Participation and/or attendance in the group session and masterclass are free of charge to the public, sponsored by Viols of Houston. Individual lessons are $75/hour, to be paid directly to Mr. Rozendaal.

John Mark Rozendaal is a virtuoso viol player and cellist, with several CDs under his belt (the Simspon CD “Breaking the Ground” is extraordinary). He’s formerly of the Chicago area and is now NYC-based, where he has a sizable teaching studio (he wrote the famed “Viola da Gamba Dojo” pedagogy books). His ensemble with violinist Rachel Barton Pine and harpsichordist David Schrader is not to be missed. Learn more about Mr. Rozendaal at www.jmrozendaal.com

If you would like to participate in the group class; perform in the master class; or schedule an individual lesson, please contact Brady Lanier at bcello@juno.com

To participate in the Master Class, please send a brief statement as to why you would like to do so (some CV details would be helpful). Everyone is welcome to attend as a spectator.

We hope to see you there

Trio Settecento highlights Scottish Baroque music

Chicago-based ensemble closes Houston Early Music’s season, May 4

HOUSTON, TX – March 19, 2012 – Chicago early music ensemble Trio Settecento will perform a program titled “The Scottish Play” at Christ the King Evangelical Lutheran Church on Friday, May 4, at 7:30 p.m. Closing the Houston Early Music 2011-2012 concert season, the performance will include both classical and folk music from the Baroque period, either composed in Scotland or inspired by the country.

“Scotland, in the Baroque period, was unique among the regions of Europe,” said Trio Settecento violinist Rachel Barton Pine. Most places separated classical and folk music, but in Scotland there was no such differentiation. “You would have the same guy who was playing in the local musical society orchestra doing Vivaldi concertos and Handel oratorios one night, and then he’d be playing in a barn for a dance the next night. Same instrument.”

This free intermingling allowed for fertile crosspollination between classical and folk music in Scotland, and the Trio Settecento program will showcase that. The group plans to perform fiddle-tune medleys, as well as sonatas by Italian composers Francesco Veracini and Francesco Geminiani and little-known Scottish composers like Thomas Erskine (the Sixth Earl of Kellie) and John Reid, a general in the British army. There will also be what are known as variation sets, essentially sets of variations improvised by a fiddler on a given tune and written down for posterity.

More about the trio

Trio Settecento performs on period instruments in a historically informed manner. Pine plays a violin made in 1770 by Nicola Gagliano and still in its original condition. Bowed-string player John Mark Rozendaal sometimes plays a viola da gamba, but will perform on a Baroque cello in Houston, because the instrument was common in Scottish orchestras and folk bands during the 1700s. Completing the trio, David Schrader will play the harpsichord, though he is also adept on organ, piano and fortepiano.

Pine, Rozendaal, and Schrader first came together as an ensemble in 1996 to record Handel’s complete violin sonatas for Cedille Records. They were not yet known as Trio Settecento, only taking that name 1997, after the release of their successful Handel recording, which became Cedille’s top-selling CD for most of the following decade.

Besides touring throughout the U.S. the group has released three additional CDs. All recorded for Cedille, these comprise a survey of the European Baroque and include An Italian Sojourn (2007), A German Bouquet (2009) and A French Soiree (2011). The trio’s fourth CD of the series, An English Fancy, is planned for release this fall.

More about the ensemble members

Though both Rozendaal and Schrader specialize in early music, Pine is primarily known as a modern violin soloist, who has performed with many of the world’s most prestigious orchestras. A child prodigy, she debuted with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1984 at age 10. Fanfare magazine described her as “one of the rare mainstream performers with a total grasp of Baroque style and embellishment.” On some 20 recordings and in a long touring career, she has delivered repertoire that ranges from medieval to modern in styles as diverse as classical and heavy metal.

She plays an electric Viper violin with the Chicago thrash-and-doom heavy metal band Earthen Grave. When not performing she oversees the Rachel Barton Pine Foundation, which assists young musicians through projects that include an instrument loan program, career and education grants, providing musical supplies to developing nations and maintaining a library of music by black composers.

Pine’s interest in Scottish music began in 2001, when the Wildwood Festival in Arkansas invited her to give a Scottish-themed recital. Intrigued by the intimate connection between classical and folk music in the country, she was soon studying Scottish fiddling with the likes of Alasdair Fraser. She released an album of 19^th-century Scottish Romantic music in 2005 and has taught workshops during the last two summers at the Jink & Diddle School of Scottish Fiddling in North Carolina.

Rozendaal specializes in performing and teaching stringed instrument music from the Baroque and Renaissance eras.  He was founding artistic director of the Chicago Baroque Ensemble and has performed solo and continuo roles with many period-instrument ensembles, including the Newberry Consort, Orpheus Band, Boston Early Music Festival Violin Band, the New York Consort of Viols, Repast Baroque Ensemble and others.        

Schrader has appeared with the Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco, and Colorado Symphony orchestras and at a host of prestigious festivals and music conventions.  He performs regularly with Chicago’s Music of the Baroque, the Newberry Consort and the venerable Bach Week Festival in Evanston, Ill.  He is a founding member of Baroque Band, Chicago’s premier period-instrument orchestra. 

Information

Trio Settecento will present “The Scottish Play” on Friday, May 4, at 7:30 p.m. at Christ the King Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2353 Rice Blvd., Houston, Texas 77005. A pre-concert talk with trio bowed-string player John Mark Rozendaal will begin at 6:45 p.m.

Parking will be available for $1.00 (credit card only) in the Rice University visitor parking area next to the church on the Greenbriar side.

Exploring history through music is a Houston Early Music hallmark. The group follows music from the Middle Ages through the 18th century, providing unique programming and world-class concerts performed with historical instruments and styles true to the period.

For more information about Houston Early Music and to purchase tickets, please visit www.HoustonEarlyMusic.org or call 281-846-4222.

CALENDAR EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: 

What:              TRIO SETTECENTO, Chicago-based early music ensemble

Program:          “The Scottish Play,” a program of Scottish Baroque music

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

When:              Friday, May 4 at 7:30 p.m. | Pre-concert talk with Trio member John Mark

Rozendaal at 6:45 p.m.

Tickets:           $35 general admission | $30 Seniors (60+) | $10 (students w/ student ID)

                        Available online at www.HoustonEarlyMusic.org or by calling 281-846-4222.

Presented by:  HOUSTON EARLY MUSIC

Description:    For its last concert of the season, Houston Early Music presents Chicago-based early music ensemble Trio Settecento in a program titled “The Scottish Play,” a spirited program of Scottish Baroque music.  

###

Attached Photo: Trio Settecento

Photo credit: Janette Beckman

Media contact:

Susan Love Fitts

936-597-8825

susan@susanlovefitts.com

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

Individual tickets are $35 for general admission, $30 for seniors, and $10 for students with ID. Free admission is available for children under 15. For tickets call (281) 846-4222 or click below.

Friday, February 3, 2012
RICHARD EGARR, Harpsichord
The Harpsichord’s Golden Century

First Unitarian Universalist Church, 7:30 p.m.
5200 Fannin, Houston, TX 77004

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

Harpsichord superstar Richard Egarr returns to Houston with his trademark sense of discovery and a fresh, compelling look at the virtuosic works of 17th century composers Couperin, Purcell, Froberger and Blow. With his inquiring mind and adventurous spirit, Egarr engages the audience with a gripping performance of works from a time when there were no restrictions and eccentricity was the standard.

View the concert program

• Download Concert Program Harpsichord’s Golden Century
• Bob Stevenson’s interview with Richard Egarr on KUHF’s The Front Row 
• Richard Egarr’s Website
• YouTube -R. Egarr, harpsichord

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

“The two geniuses inspired each other to create some of the most wonderful creations for the harpsichord,” Egarr said.

He will also examine the work of John Blow and Henry Purcell, which, he said, “add a bit of English quirkiness to the mix.”

Egarr said he is particularly inspired by 17^th century composers, because he believes the greatest music for harpsichord was written during this time.

 “This is the century of real musical barrier breaking and exploration, as well as the time of the harpsichord’s greatest importance,” he said. “I am a proud music addict and love to communicate my passion and enthusiasm for music to everyone I come into contact with.”

 Egarr currently serves as music director of the Academy of Ancient Music, is increasingly sought after as a conductor by non-period chamber and symphony orchestras and performs with period ensembles such as the Handel and Haydn Society in Boston, Tafelmusik and Portland Baroque.

 Egarr began his musical training as a choir boy at York Minster, at Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester, and as organ scholar at Clare College Cambridge. His studies with Gustav and Marie Leonhardt further inspired his work in the field of historical performance.

http://www.thefrontrow.org/articles/1328115130-Houston-Early-Music—Richard-Egarr.html

Download Concert Program Harpsichord’s Golden Century