Year: 2008

Our program this month features three Baroque compositions by women composers, performed by the Ars Femina ensemble.

The first work on our program is Componimento for violin and continuo, composed in Venice in 1622 by Lucrezia Vizana. Vizana entered the convent of St Christine in 1598 at the age of 8, where she was trained in music. Her compositions are characterized by virtuosic ornamentation, as we’ll hear in this performance by violin soloist Katie Whiteside.

Next on our program are Two Dutch Carols by Anna Ovena Hoijer. Both carols were composed in Rotterdam, the first in 1617, and the second in 1622. Although Hoijer was Dutch, she wrote in German to reach a wider audience. In this performance, the mezzo-soprano soloist Julie Hartwein sings in German, and the chorus is sung in English.

The final pieces on this program are Two canzonas for duo violins, composed in Regensberg , Germany in 1600. These instrumental pieces were discovered in the bindings of a set of choirbooks used at the Regensberg Cathedral, with the composer only identified as “La Contessa.” Thanks to recent scholarship, the mysterious composer has finally been identified as Maria Paterina.

Our program (10 minutes and 4 seconds) features “Singet Dem Herrn”, for soprano with violin obbligato by Dietrich Buxtehude (c. 1637-1707). The organist viagra generic Dietrich Buxtehude is widely considered the most important German composer of the mid Baroque period and “Singet Dem Herrn” is one of his most beautiful works. His style strongly influenced many composers, including Johann Sebastian Bach.

The motet “Singet Dem Herrn” by Dietrich Buxtehude with soprano soloist Tamara Miller-Campbell; William Bauer, violin; and Neal Richardson, harpsichord.

Our program “The Virtuous viola d’amore” (12 minutes and 19 seconds) features the Overture in 8 movements for two violas d’amore and harpsichord by Johann Caspar Ganspeck (1637-1741). The viola d’amore shares many features of the viol family – a flat back and intricately carved head at the top of the peg box but, unlike the viols, it is unfretted and played much like a violin, being held horizontally under the chin. It has seven bowed strings and seven resonator strings (which are not played directly but vibrate in sympathy with the notes played). Thanks largely to this sympathetic strings, the viola d’amore ahas a particulary seet and warm sound. Mozart’s father said the instrument sounded “especially charming in the stillness of the evening”.

This performance by Ars Antigua, directed by Jerry Fuller features violists d’amore William Bauer and Rachel Gries.

The Overture for 2 violas d’amore and harpsichord by Johann Caspar Ganspeck in 8 movements:

• Overture
• Presto
• Passepied
• Bouree
• Menuet
• Gavott
• Hornpipe
• Chaconne

Our program (11 minutes and 21 examples of evaluation essays seconds) features a program of “Bawdy Songs and Fythel Tunes” including “Hit her on the Bum” by Robert Bremner (1713-1789) and “Watkins Ale”, an anonymous work from an English Broadside.

Robert Bremner was a Scottish violinist and composer who wrote sonatas and variations based on popular tunes of this day. Watkin’s Ale comes from an old English broadside, which was sort of a newspaper in its day. It is a cautionary tale for young women with a moral at the end.

This performance by Ars Antigua directed by Jerry Fuller, features Nancy Bristol, soprano.

Our program this month (13 minutes and 29 seconds) features Amy Pikler, winner of the 2008 Ars Antigua–Midwest Young Artists National Early Music competition, generously sponsored by Walgreens. Fifteen year old Amy Pikler began her musical studies at the age of five and currently studies violin with Desiree Ruhstrat and recorder with Patrick O’Malley. Amy has appeared as soloist with the Sewanee Summer Music Festival Orchestra, the Chicago Chamber Orchestra and the North Suburban Symphony. In 2006 Amy won the junior division of the Ars Antigua–Midwest Young Artists Early Music competition, in addition to winning the senior division this year. Amy also plays violin and is a member of the symphony orchestra and chamber music program at Midwest Young Artists.

This month’s program includes three short pieces:

Concerto in F Major movement three by Giuseppe Sammartini (1695 – 1750)

Siciliana from Sonata in E-flat Major by Johan Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Concerto for Sopranino Recorder movement one by Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Midwest Young Artists, located in Highwood, Illinois , is the largest and most comprehensive youth ensemble music program in the Midwest . Founded in 1993 with one orchestra, MYA has grown to include 5 youth orchestras, more than 60 chamber music ensembles, 3 choral groups, an all-inclusive jazz program, and classes in music theory and history.