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En Garde! French Duels on Eight Strings

March 13, 2024, 10:00 pm

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Two male violinists perform from music on music stands

Composers and violinists Jean-Marie Leclair, Giovanni Pietro Ghignone, and Louis-Gabriel Guillemain dominated the court of Louis XV in Paris.

Playlist

Jean-Pierre Guignon (1702-1774)
La Furstemberg

Jean-Marie Leclair (1697-1764)
Sonata No. 5 in g minor

Jean-Pierre Guignon
Les sauvages

Louis-Gabriel Guillemain (1705-1771)
Sonata No. 2 in d minor

Jean-Pierre Guignon
Caprice No. 11 in e minor

Jean-Marie Leclair
Sonata No. 6 in B

Jean-Pierre Guignon
Nouvelles variations des Folies d’Espagne op. 9

ARTISTS
Johannes Pramsohler, violin
Roldán Bernabé, violin

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Femmes d’excellence with Ensemble Molière

March 6, 2024, 10:00 pm

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a fair-haired woman in a low-cut burgundy dress holds a piece of music paper in her left hand

Soprano Ruby Hughes joins Ensemble Molière to perform a program of women composers of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries: Mademoiselle Laurent, Mademoiselle Duval, and Élisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre.

Playlist

Mademoiselle Laurent (ca. 16??-ca. 17??)
Ouverture to Le Concert

Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre (1665-1729
Trio Sonata No. 1 in g minor
“L’Ile de Delos” from Cantates Françoises, Livre 3

Mademoiselle Duval (1718-after 1775)
Suite from Les Génies, ou Les caractères de l’Amour
– Ouverture, Trio, Sarabande, Gavotte, Rondeau, Bourée, Ritournelle, Passacaille, Tambourin

ARTISTS
Ensemble Molière: Flavia Hirte, flute; Alice Earll, violin; Catriona McDermid, bassoon; Kate Conway, viola da gamba; Satoko Doi-Luck, harpsichord

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Thomas Tallis’s Motets & Lamentations of Jeremiah

February 28, 2024, 10:00 pm

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5 people in a fortress are surrounded by around 20 armed attackers (javelins, bows and arrows, swords, shields, catapults)

The Geneva-based early music ensemble Gli Angeli Genève brings us a program of Thomas Tallis’s sacred anthems and motets.

Playlist

Thomas Tallis (ca 1505-1585)
In manus tuas Domine
O sacrum convivium
Lamentatio Jeremiae prophetae I
In pace
Gaude Gloriosa dei mater
Miserere nostri
Sancte Deus
Lamentatio Jeremiae prophetae II
Absterge Domine
Loquebantur variis linguis
O nata lux


William Byrd (1543-1623)
Ye sacred muses

Thomas Tallis
If ye love me

ARTISTS
Gli Angeli Genève, director: Stephan MacLeod

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Jordi Savall: The Elements and the Furies

February 21, 2024, 10:00 pm

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The instrumental ensemble Le Concert des Nations being conducted by Jordi Savall in concert in the ornate Palau de la Música Catalana.

Jordi Savall and Le Concert des Nations take us on a journey through a variety of sound environments of the eighteenth century.

Playlist

Jean-Féry Rebel (1666-1747)
Les Elémens: ballet suite
– Le Chaos – Loure I: LaTerre – Chaconne: Le Feu – Ramage: L’Air – Rossignolo – Rondeau: Air pour l’Amour – Loure II – Sicillienne – Caprice – Premier Tambourin: L’Eau – Second Tambourin – Premier Tambourin: L’Eau

George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Water Music, Suite No. 1 in F, HWV 348
– Largo Allegro – Adagio e staccato – Allegro – Andante – Allegro – Air – Bourée – Hornpipe – Allegro moderato – Minuets

Christoph Willibald Gluck (1714-1787)
Don Juan, ballet suite
– Sinfonia – Andante Grazioso – Andante – Allegro maestoso – Allegro furioso – Risoluto moderato – Gavotte – Brillante – Allegretto – Giusto – Allegro Presto – Andante Grazioso – Andante – Presto – Allegretto – Presto – Andante – Andante – Allegro giusto – Moderato – Andante – Grazioso – Allegretto – Moderato – Presto – Risoluto e moderato – Allegro – Allegretto – Larghetto – Allegro non troppo

Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764)
“Contredanse très vive” from Les boréades (encore)

ARTISTS
Le Concert des Nations
Jordi Savall, conductor


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Ars Subtilior: Ballades, Rondeaux & Virelais

February 14, 2024, 10:00 pm

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a 14th-century heart-shaped musical score

Love is complicated, but not as complicated as the music that celebrates it.

Playlist

Johannes Suzoy (Jo Susay) fl 1380
Ballade: Prophilias, un des nobles de Roume
Prophilas, one of the patricians of Rome found himself in grievous peril through loving

Ballade: A l’arbre sec puis etre comparé
I may be likened to the withered tree

Ballade: Pictagoras, Jabol et Orpheüs
Pythagoras, Jubal, and Orpheus were the first fathers of melody

Johannes Olivier fl late 14th century
Ballade: Si con cy gist mon cuer en grief martire
As my heart lies here in grievous suffering

Jacob (Jacquemin de) Senleches fl 1382-83
Ballade: Je me merveil / J’ai pluseurs fois
Sometimes I marvel / Many a time in the past

Virelai: En ce gracieux tamps joli
In this pleasant, joyful season in a secluded spot

Ballade: Fuions de ci, fuions, povre compaingne
Let us flee from here, unhappy band

Virelai: La Harpe de melodie
The melodious harp

Ballade: En attendant esperance conforte
While he waits, hope comforts the man who seeks perfection

Virelai: Tel me voit et me regarde
There are some who see me

Johannes Galiot fl 1380-95
Ballade: Le sault perilleux a l’aventure prins
I took the perilous leap at a venture

Rondeau: En atendant d’avoir la douce vie
While he waits to have that sweet life

Guido: fl 1372-74
Rondeau: Dieux gart qui bien le chantera
God preserve him who sings it well

Ballade: Or voit tout en avanture
Now let it all go as it may

Anon.
Ballade: En Albion de fluns environee
In Albion, surrounded by rivers

Rondeau: Se j’ay perdu toute ma part
I have lost all that which was my own

ARTISTS
The Medieval Ensemble of London:
Peter Davies and Timothy Davies, Directors
Margaret Philpot, alto; Rogers Covey-Crump and Paul Elliott, tenors; Michael George and Geoffrey Shaw, baritones; Robert Cooper, rebec and fiddle; Peter Davies, dulcian and harp; Timothy Davies, gittern and lute.

L’Oiseau-Lyre 4759119

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Jean Rondeau Plays Bach & Scarlatti

February 7, 2024, 10:00 pm

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Jean Rondeau tilts his head to make thoughtful but playful eye contact

One of today’s leading harpsichordists favors us with a recital of keyboard works by Johann Sebastian Bach and Domenico Scarlatti.

Playlist

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Suite in C minor, BWV 997: Prelude
Fantasia in C minor, BWV 906

Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757)
Four Keyboard Sonatas:
Sonata in C, K. 132
Sonata in A minor, K. 175
Sonata in A, K. 208
Sonata in D, K. 119


Johann Sebastian Bach
Concerto in D minor, BWV 974: Adagio

Domenico Scarlatti
Two Keyboard Sonatas:
Sonata in F, K. 6
Sonata in F minor, K. 481


Johann Sebastian Bach
Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004: Chaconne

François Couperin (1668-1733)
Les barricades mystérieuses (encore)

Jean Rondeau, harpsichord

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Gesualdo & Collegium Vocale Ghent

January 31, 2024, 10:00 pm

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Baroque&Before

The highly expressive polyphony of Carlo Gesualdo, as Collegium Vocale Ghent, under the direction of Philippe Herreweghe, offers some of the revolutionary madrigals that would shape the Baroque era.

Playlist

Carlo Gesualdo (ca 1561-1613)
Madrigali a 5 voci, libro Quinto

Gioite voi col canto
Take pleasure in singing while I weep

S’io non miro, non moro
If I look not, I die not
Itene, o miei sospiri

My sighs, may you wing your way to her who is causing my bitter tormet

Dolcissima mia vita
My sweet beloved, why do you withhold the relief which I long for

O dolorosa goia
O dolorous joy, o sweet suffering

Qual fora, donna
What purpose does a sweet sigh of love serve if the sigh which it draws from you so inflamed my heart

Felicissimo sonno
Most happy sleep

Se vi duol il mio duolo
If my sorrow saddens you, you are the only one who can turn my sorrows all to joy

Occhi del mio cor vita
Eyes, life of my heart

Languisce al fin
He who is slipping away from life languishes toward the end

Marce grido pianogendo
Mercy I cry, weeping, but who hears me

Asciugate i begli occhi
Dry those lovely eyes

Tu m’uccidi, o crudele
Heartless murderer of love

O tenebroso giorno
O dark day, unhappy is my fate

T’amo mia vita
I love you, my life

ARTISTS
Collegium Vocale Ghent; Philippe Herreweghe, conductor

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Göteborg Baroque: The Claviorganum in Concert

January 24, 2024, 10:00 pm

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Interior of a mediaeval church

A rare opportunity to hear this hybrid instrument: both harpsichord and organ.

Playlist

George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Concerto grosso in D, op. 6/5, HWV 323
– Ouverture: Larghetto – Allegro – Presto – Largo – Menuet: Un poco larghetto

Ariodante, HWV 33
“Spero per voi”

Rinaldo, HWV 7
“Cara sposa”

Trio Sonata in G, HWV 399

Organ Concerto in B flat, op. 7/1, HWV 306
– Andante – Andante – Largo e piano – Bourrée

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Cessate, omai cessate, RV 684, cantata
– Cessate, omai cessate – Ah, ch’infelice sempre – A voi dunque ricorro orridi specchi – Nell’orrido albergo

ARTISTS
Daniel Carlsson, countertenor

Göteborg Baroque
Magnus Kjellson: Artistic Director & claviorganum
Violins: Fredrik From, Karin Samuelsson, Hannah Tibell, Per Buhre, Pernilla Berg, Susanne Brunström
Violas: Gabriel Bania, Johan Tufvesson
Cello: Ingrid Andersson Kjellsdotter
Violone: Katarina Trollhagen
Theorbo: Anders Ericson

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Melancholy and Nonsense: Madrigals for Every Mood

January 10, 2024, 10:00 pm

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A man plays the violin and sings; a woman plays the lute and smiles, a young man in the background holds up a glass

2024 marks Baroque&Before’s tenth anniversary. On this week’s program, British vocal ensemble I Fagiolini brings us madrigals for every mood in a program titled “Melancholy and Nonsense.” I Fagiolini’s recital took place November 11, 2022 in the Kreuzkirche in Herne, Germany, as part of Herne Early Music Days, founded in 1976. Madrigals by Monteverdi, Purcell, Banchieri and others echo the …

Playlist

Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643)
Io mi son giovinetta
Cruda Amarilli
Lamento della ninfa
Piagn’e sospira


Adriano Banchieri (1568-1634)
Capricciata a tre voci / Contrappunto bestiale alla mente

Giovanni Croce (ca 1557-1609)
Il gioco dell’occa

Orazio Vecchi (ca 1550-1605)
Misero che farò lucio infelice
Oh ecco il capitano


John Wilbye (1574-1638)
Weep, Weep, Mine Eyes

Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Urge Me no More, Z. 426
Music for a While, Z. 583
When the Cock Begins to Crow, Z. 172


Clément Janequin (ca 1485-after 1558)
La chasse

ARTISTS
I Fagiolini; Robert Hollingworth: conductor, alto and harpsichord

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Baroque&Before: The First Ten Years

January 3, 2024, 10:00 pm

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BaroqueBefore 20-38

An encore broadcast of Baroque&Before’s inaugural program, first heard January 2, 2014.

Playlist

Antonio de Cabezón (1510-1566)
Diferencias sobre el Canto del Cavallero
Pavana con sus Glossas
Diferencias sobre Guárdame las vacas (Luys de Narváez)
Diferencias sober la Gallarda Milanesa

Juan Cabanilles (1644-1712)
Corrente Italiana
Tiento de Primer Tono
Tiento de Batalla

Anonymous, compiled by Antonio Martín y Coll (c.1660-c.1734)
Flores de Música
– Folías de España
– Españoletas
– Chacona

Padre Antonio Soler (1729-1783)
Fandango

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Toccata in e minor, BWV 914
Verso VRS 2125

ARTIST
Ignacio Prego, harpsichord

Opening & Closing Theme for Baroque&Before:
Joan Ambrosio Dalza: Piva, performed by Musica Reservata (Boston Skyline BSD 123)