Overview of
Houston Early Music's 2004-2005 Season
 |
|
For a look at our past seasons, see our archive.
FRETWORK with EMMA KIRKBY
Fri., Oct.15, 2004, 8:00 pm
St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
5501 South Main Street
|
We open our season with an exciting program featuring one of the most celebrated interpreters of early music. The world’s leading viol consort and the dazzling soprano Emma Kirkby perform music for voice and viola da gamba by William Byrd and his contemporaries.
|
A Colonial Christmas
MUSICA PACIFICA with JULIANNE BAIRD
Sat., Dec. 4, 2004, 8:00 p.m.
Christ Church Cathedral
1117 Texas Avenue
|
Musica Pacifica and acclaimed American soprano, Julianne Baird will lead your family in a seasonal celebration of the marvelous cultural diversity of an emerging nation. This heart-warming holiday program features music and readings from the churches, cabins, parlors and taverns of the American colonies performed on recorder, Baroque violin, cello and harpsichord. The merriment will continue with a reception in the Great Hall. . Each of the Musica Pacifica artists . . . is a genuine virtuoso." "If spring sunlight could be translated into sound, it would probably be a lot like Julianne Baird." Opera News
|
Benjamin Bagby
Fri., Feb. 11, 2005, 8:00 p.m.
Trinity Episcopal Church
1015 Holman (at Main)
 |
From the first word, "Hwæt" (Lo!) until the death of the monster Grendel, Mr. Bagby (noted director of the medieval ensemble, Sequentia) will hold you spellbound with his dramatic retelling of the epic poem, accompanying himself with a six-string lyre in the manner of the medieval bard. Performed in Old English with surtitles. "Mr. Bagby comes as close to holding hundreds of people in a spell as ever a man has. . . ." The New York Times
|
Hispanic Heritage Series
Fri., Mar. 11, 2005, 8:00 p.m.
St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
5501 South Main Street
Explore diverse music from Baroque Spain and Latin America with its mix of rhythm and spice. Bright, joyful dances such as the Tarantellas, Canarios, and Folias come alive in this unique program. Guest percussionist Danny Mallon and Houston historic harpist Becky Baxter join Chatham Baroque in an exhilarating performance of audience favorites.
"This is well-performed, enjoyable music in a one-hundred percent Latin American version." Goldberg Magazine
John Holloway, Jaap Ter Linden &
Lars Ulrik Mortensen
Friday, Apr. 15, 2005, 8:00 p.m.
Christ Church Cathedral
1117 Texas Avenue
"Freaks" was the word used to describe the extraordinary works which shocked the 18th-century English public accustomed to more conservative music. "Macaronis" was the term used to describe the Italian musicians who flooded into early 18th-century London for career opportunities. "Vermin" was the epithet used to describe the florid ornaments for Corelli sonatas published in the early 18th century. For 21st-c entury music lovers, three of Europe’s most respected period instrumentalists perform Italian gems by Corelli, Geminiani, Scarlatti and Verancini. and Veracini.
Fri., May 6, 2005, 8:00 p.m.
Christ the King Lutheran Church
2353 Rice Boulevard
This exciting West Coast ensemble offers a program of vocal and instrumental
works exploring the interaction between German and Italian cultures following
the ruins of the Thirty Years War. Featured will be sacred works by North
Germans Buxtehude, Tunder and Bernhard, and instrumental chamber works by the
Austrian composers Kerll, Schmelzer and Rosenmüller.
"World class performances…. La Monica absolutely owns this repertoire and plays it with an abundance of warmth, wit, and intelligence." KPFK-FM, Los Angeles
1:00 p.m., Saturday
May 7, 2005
Brown Auditorium
Caroline Wiess Law Bldg.
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
1100 Bissonnet
In a performance for the entire family, La Monica provides an introduction of various Baroque string, keyboard, and vocal instruments through Biber’s Sonata Representativa, which portrays animal sounds from frogs and birds to the cat – ending with the most dangerous animal of all (Musketeer). Kids get to show how they make each animal sound before the ensemble shows how the instruments can do it, and then they will sing Renaissance animal songs!.
Recordings by artists featured by Houston Early Music are available at
Joel's Classical Shop4010 Bissonnet St, Houston, TX 77005
Phone: (713) 665-0954
These activities are made possible in part by a grant from the City of Houston and the Texas Commission on the Arts through the Cultural Arts Council of Houston and Harris County