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January 25, 2007 issue

Harmonia Baroque Performs at Rosen Concert Hall February 1

Ensemble Will Perform at Ashe Arts Center January 27

Story by David Brewer

Classical music ensemble Harmonia Baroque will present an evening of music at ASU’s Rosen Concert Hall on Thursday, February 1, at 8:00 p.m. Admission to the concert is free. The ensemble will also perform this Saturday, January 27, in the gallery of the Ashe Arts Center. Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for children.

Harmonia Baroque is comprised of three faculty members of ASU’s Hayes School of Music, along with two additional area musicians, all dedicated to performing music from the baroque period on historically correct instruments.

“For us, it’s an important contribution to play the music pieces on the instruments for which they were intended,” said oboist Alicia Chapman.

Other members of the ensemble include Nancy Schneeloch-Bingham on traverso (flute), Priscilla Porterfield on metzo soprano cello, Michael Bell on harpsichord and Barbara Krundieck on cello. Chapman’s baroque-era oboe is known as the hautboif.

According to Chapman, the group’s selections for the performance at Rosen will be a sonic tour of Europe focusing on the home countries of the various composers. Among those whose works will be performed include J.S. Bach (Germany), Henry Purcell (England), Nicola Matteis (Italy) and Jean-Francoise Dandrieu (France).

The vast majority of baroque music was composed in Europe between 1600 and 1760 and performed on instruments specific to the period that play softer than modern wind and string instruments. According to Chapman, the traverso and hautboif are each made of boxwood and do not have the keys of the modern flute and oboe.

The mellow, colorful compositions of the baroque period were ideal for performance in salons and similarly intimate venues by smaller ensembles. Eventually, however, instruments and compositions evolved to suit bigger audiences and performances in large music halls.

Fortunately for Chapman and company, performances such as the ones given by Harmonia Baroque that feature baroque compositions performed on the period instruments are growing in popularity.

“We love playing these instruments in a small setting,” said Chapman.

 

Want To Go?

Date: Thursday, February 1

Time: 8:00 p.m.

Location: Rosen Concert Hall

Cost: FREE!

 

Want To Go?

Date: Saturday, January 27

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Location: Ashe Arts Center

Cost: $8 for adults/$5 for children