October 6, 2023
GOLDEN VIOLS with SARAH MOYER
We celebrate Lamont School of Music’s Zoe Weiss and renowned singer Sarah Moyer’s debut on our Happy Hour Concert Series. They are joined by friends Hannah Robbins, Sarah Biber, and Sarah Graf—sounding a harmonious triad of Sarahs. Centered in the repertoire of the Elizabethan era, the ensemble the “Golden Viols” (a nod to their rehearsal location in that western suburb of Denver), bring you a selection of consort songs and instrumental works from England and the Continent including William Byrd, widely considered one of the greatest composers of the Renaissance.
The Performers
Sarah Moyer, soprano
Zoe Weiss, treble viol
Sarah Biber, tenor viol
Sarah Graf, bass viol
Hannah Robbins, bass viol
Program
Prelude and Voluntary – William Byrd (1538-1623)
An English Set – #1
“Come Again, Sweet Love” – John Dowland (c. 1563-1626)
Fantasia a 4, #1 – Byrd
“Cuckoo” – Anon.
“This Merry Pleasant Spring” – Anon.
The King’s Pavyn – Anon.
“When Daphne from Fair Phoebus Did Fly” – Anon.
A “Susanna” Set
“Susanne Ung Jour” – Orlande de Lassus (1532-1594)
Canzon sopra Susanne – Attrib. Ippolito Tartaglino (early 17th C.)
“Susane Ung Jour” – Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck (1562-1621)
An English Set – #2
Pavan and Galliard in B-flat – Byrd
“Farewell the Bliss” – Anon.
“La Doune Cella” – Anon.
“Joan Quoth John” – Richard Nicholson (1563-1639)
Fantasia a 4, #2 – Byrd
Farewell
“Now, Oh Now, I Needs Must Part” – Dowland
October 27, 2023
CADMUS
“From Sorcery to Enchantment”
Cadmus presents a concert of drama and delight. Although there is a great variety of styles and regions represented in the program, the centerpiece is Clérambault’s French Cantata Médée. This telling of the ancient and fiery story of revenge and passion is a large drama condensed into a small package. This music is not as often performed as other masterpieces from the Baroque era. You’ll be sure to enjoy this lush celebration of musical virtuosity!
The Performers
Amanda Balestrieri, soprano
Brune Macary, Baroque violin
Ann Marie Morgan, viola da gamba
Wesley Leffingwell, harpsichord
Program
Sonata in G minor, no. 48 from Concerti Ecclesiastici (1610) – Giovanni Paolo Cima (1570-1630)
“Romanesca” (1620) – Biagio Marini (1594-1663)
“Médée” from Cantates françoises, Book 1 (1710) – Louis-Nicolas Clérambault (1667-1749)
Allemande from Nouvelles suite de pièce de clavecin (1726/27) – Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764)
Sonata for Violin, Viola da Gamba, and Harpsichord in D major, no. 8, op. 2 – Jean-Marie Leclair (1697-1764)
Two songs from “Nine German Arias” – Georg Friedrich Händel (1685-1759)
“Süße Stille, sanfte Quelle” (HWV 205)
“Flammende Rose, Zierde der Erden” (HWV 210)
November 10, 2023
COLORADO CHAMBER PLAYERS
“Pizzazz!”
Pizzazz! A virtuosic display of baroque fireworks awaits in a program of music by J.S. Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, Antoine Forqueray, and Louis-Toussaint Milandre. The days may be getting shorter, but this is a concert that will light up your autumn evening and fill it with…you’ve got it!…Pizzazz!
The Performers
Paul Primus, harpsichord and violin
Brune Macary, violin
Barbara Hamilton, viola d’amore and violin
Karl Reque, baroque viola
Sarah Biber, bass gamba
Program
Trio for Viola d’Amore, Violin, and Continuo – Louis-Toissaint Milandre (floruit c. 1756-c. 1776)
I. Polonaise No. 1
II. Polonaise No. 2
III. Romanza
IV. Allegro
Barbara Hamilton, viola d’amore / Paul Primus, violin / Sarah Biber, bass gamba
Concerto for Viola d’Amore and Strings in D minor, RV 395 (1720?) – Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
I. Allegro
II. Andante
III. Allegro
Barbara Hamilton, viola d’amore
From Concerto for Harpsichord and Strings an A major, BWV 1055 – Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
I. Allegro
Paul Primus, harpsichord
From Pieces de viole (1747) – Antoine Forqueray (1672-1745)
La du Breüil (Louré)
La Leclair (très Vivement et détaché)
Sarah Biber, bass gamba
Concerto La Stravaganza in B-flat major, op. 4 no. 1, RV 383a – Vivaldi
I. Allegro
II. Largo e cantabile
III. Allegro
Brune Macary, violin
January 19, 2024
ANN MARIE MORGAN AND FRIENDS
Ann Marie Morgan / John Murgel / Louis Saxton
“Music for a While —
Works by J.S. Bach and Henry Purcell Reimagined”
Ann Marie Morgan and friends John Murgel and Louis Saxton collaborate to “befriend” the music of J.S. Bach and Henry Purcell. This imaginative program not only explores the rich musical works created by these incredible composers, but also reveals the amazing versatility within the music as it is re-imagined and re-voiced. It promises to be a wonderful evening of viol, voice, and inventiveness you will not want to miss!
The Performers
Ann Marie Morgan, voice and viol
John Murgel, organ
Louis Saxton, cello piccolo
Program
“Music for a While” from Oedipus (1692), Z. 583 – Henry Purcell (c. 1659-1695)
Three pieces by Henry Purcell
Fantasia #3 (c. 1678), Z. 731
“Two in one upon a Ground,” Chaconne for Flutes, from Dioclesian, Act III (1690), Z. 627
Fantasia #2 (c. 1678), Z. 731
Music of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Prelude from Cello Suite #6 in D Major, BWV 1012
Adagio from Sonata for viola da gamba and organ, BWV 1029
Alla Gigue from Pastorale in F Major, BWV 590
Selections from “Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen” (“Shout to God with Joy in Every Land”), BWV 51 – J.S. Bach
III. Aria – “Hörchster mache deine Güte“
IV. Chorale – “Sei Lob und Preis mit Ehren”
V. Allegro – “Alleluja”
“An Evening Hymn” (pub. 1688), Z. 193 – Purcell
March 8, 2024
CARPENTER AND BARNHART
“La Stravagante: The Italiian-Spanish Connection”
Through the centuries composers have sought to delight performers and entertain audiences with the unexpected and bizarre—from newly created genres to stretching the limits of established forms. Jennifer Carpenter and Keith Barnhart treasure the harmonic extravagances, melodic virtuosity, vivid programmaticism, and the newly developed instrumental techniques that bring that music to life. So powerful is this creativity that historical performance with historic instruments continues to generate new compositions beyond the era of “Early Music” and into our own time. This program celebrates the artists’ favorite Italian and Spanish composers who have shared their passion for la stravagante—“The Extravagant!”
The Performers
Jennifer Carpenter – recorders
Keith Barnhart – guitars and lutes
Program
Sonata seconda – Dario Castello (1602-1631)
Pasacalles de 1 tono – Juan Cabanilles (1644-1712)
Solfeggio detta “la Stravaganza” – Francesco Durante (1684-1755)
Romanza – Niccolò Paganini (1782-1840)
Grand Potpourri – Mauro Giuliani (1781-1829)
Canarios – Gaspar Sanz (1640-1710)
Sonata El jardín de Aranjuez en tiempo de Primavera con difersos cantos de páxaros y otros animales – José Herrando (c.1720-63)
Allegro, Andante, Allegro moderato
Cádiz – Sören Sieg (b. 1966)
Mvt. 4: The Bath of the Mermaid
Mvt. 5: Carnival of Cádiz
May 3, 2024
UN TAS DE CORDES
“String Music from the French Court”
Happy Hour Concerts welcomes Un tas de cordes to our series for a first-time concert. The Baroque string trio performs a program of chamber music from the courts of Louis XIV and Louis XV. The evening will feature sonatas by Jean-Féry Rebel and Georg Muffat as well as a haunting viola da gamba solo by the famed Marin Marais. The concert closes with a charming and regal chaconne by Marais’ student Jacques Morel.
All of these composers had close contact with Jean-Baptiste Lully, Louis XIV’s favorite composer, yet each also felt the influence of Italian musicians like Corelli. The program includes pieces that reflect both French and Italian styles, drawing on the best aspects of both.
The Performers
Samuel Breene – Baroque violin
Sarah Biber – viola da gamba
Jeffrey Noonan – theorbo
Program
Sonata sixiéme (Sonate a Violon Seul, Livre 2, 1713) – Jean-Féry Rebel (1666 – 1747)
Grave
Legerement
Gracieusement
Viste
Prélude Ré Majeur (Saizenay manuscript, 1669) – Robert de Visée (c. 1655 – 1732/3)
Sonata Violino Solo (Arcibskuptvf v Kromĕřiži, 1677) – Georg Muffat (1653 – 1704)
Adagio
Allegro
Adagio
Allegro-Adagio
Tombeau pour le Cadet Marias (Pièces de viol, Cinquéme Livre, 1725) – Marin Marais (1656 – 1728)
Chaconne en trio (Pièces de violle, Livre 1, 1709) – Jacques Morel (fl. c.1700 – 1749)