Go For Baroque!

PROGRAM

• PLORATE FILII ISRAEL (from Jephte) Giacomo Carissimi
• MACHET DIE THORE WEIT Andreas Hammerschmidt
• HEAR MY PRAYER, O LORD, Z.15 Henry Purcell
• HAIL! BRIGHT CECILIA (Ode for St. Cecilia’s Day, Z.328) Henry Purcell
• THE SILVER SWAN Orlando Gibbons
• LAUDATE JEHOVAM OMNES GENTES (Psalm 117), TWV 7:25 G. Ph. Telemann
• ORGAN SOLO J. S. Bach
• WACHET AUF, RUFT UNS DIE STIMME, BWV 140 J. S. Bach
• THE KING SHALL REJOICE, HWV 260 (Coronation Anthem No. 3) G. F. Handel

We’ve all heard of the Baroque era with its dual titans of the music world: Johann Sebastian Bach and Georg Frederick Handel, but what made the music from 1600–1750 so great? And why do we continue to listen to and perform that music with deep appreciation and frequent regularity 400 years later?

In this concert we will explore how the Baroque era developed and what made it so daring and exciting. From the highly expressive music of Carissimi and Purcell through to the end of the Baroque era with the deeply meaningful music of J. S. Bach and the majestic fireworks of G. F. Handel, we will hear, side by side, how they differed and how they paved the way for the sublime music of Haydn and Mozart that followed.

Music will include “Plorate filii Israel” from Carissimi’s masterpiece, the classic early Baroque oratorio, Jephte; “Hear My Prayer” and “Hail! Bright Cecilia” from the Ode for St. Cecilia’s Day by the English master, Henry Purcell; the famous madrigal, “The Silver Swan” by Orlando Gibbons; the popular “Laudate Jehovam” by Bach’s biggest competitor, the hugely prolific Georg Philipp Telemann; J. S. Bach’s most famous cantata and one of his best-loved works, Wachet auf, BWV 140, and the exuberant Coronation Anthem No. 3, written for the crowning of King George II, “The King Shall Rejoice”.

Our soloists for this concert are Katy Clark, soprano, Kerry Stover, tenor, and Laurence Williams, bass-baritone, who is the new Music Director at St. Paul’s Cathedral. They and the choir will be accompanied for this rich offering by the London Symphonia. As well, concert organist, Ian Sadler, will offer an organ solo by that towering master of the instrument, J. S. Bach.

“I cannot wait for this concert! I have always loved the music from the Baroque era. When it is expressive, it is nobly so, and when it is jubilant, its energy and excitement are thrilling. There is nothing like it. There is a reason it still speaks to our hearts and minds so strongly today and is the musical backdrop of so many important occasions”, says Artistic Director, Karen Schuessler.