Ornaments! with lutenist Brandon Acker

December 18, 2021, 4:30 pm

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close-up of Golden g-clef Christmas tree ornament on branch
allison.hare from Shoreview, US, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

A demonstration of some of the basic (some would say essential) ornaments singers use to decorate their melodies. Many of these decorative “licks” were codified in the High Baroque and called les agréments, though you continue to hear them employed all the way through the Bel Canto period of opera. This week’s guest is one of the most sought-after musicians in Chicago, Brandon Acker, who will accompany Oliver on theorbo.

 

Playlist

Robert de Visée: Prelude in G
Brandon Acker, theorbo

George Frideric Handel: Messiah, HWV 56
45. Air, “I know that my Redeemer liveth”
Susan Gritton, soprano
Gabrieli Consort & Players
Paul McCreesh, conductor
Archiv Produktion 453 464-2

George Frideric Handel: Messiah, HWV 56
45.  Air, “I know that my Redeemer liveth”
Amanda Forsythe, soprano
Apollo’s Fire
Jeannette Sorrell, conductor and harpsichord
Avie AV-2208

George Frideric Handel: Messiah, HWV 56
2. Recitative, “Comfort ye”
Oliver Camacho, tenor
Brandon Acker, theorbo