Early Music Now Announces Its 27th Season

MILWAUKEE - April 10, 2013 - PRLog -- Early Music Now has 26 years of experience under its belt in both raising awareness and defining the parameters of early music for Milwaukee audiences. Although EMN’s mission states that it is “dedicated to music composed before 1800,” and the assumption is often made that this is music with European origins, the actual programming has increasingly stretched both the chronological and geographical limits of those assumptions.

Executive and Artistic Director Charles Q. Sullivan recalls that, when he took on the leadership of EMN from its founder, Thallis Hoyt Drake, in 2001, he took some heat from early music purists because his program-ming included too much Baroque music: “What has happened to early music?” Sullivan has been careful since that time to favor Medieval and Renaissance music in the balancing act of scheduling each season.

But he has also adopted the tagline “Across Borders – Across Time” to signal an expanding realization of EMN’s essential mission. Programming has become more adventurous by including music from other than Western European sources; and partly because of that shift, has stretched across a much broader time frame to include not only music from ancient sources, but even occasional contemporary compositions based on earlier models.

Sullivan fully supports the “dedicated to” part of EMN’s mission statement, but insists that it does not mean “limited to.” In both its role as a presenter, and increasingly as an educator, EMN strives to create a context for the music it presents that emphasizes the “real life” significance of music throughout history. The recent announcement of Early Music Now’s 27th season clearly demonstrates this expansive view of “early music.”

As is its practice, the “early” part is exemplified by the scheduling of most concerts at 5:00 on Saturdays – a start time that seems to please an increasing number of patrons. Early Music Now continues to make its home in several of Milwaukee’s outstanding landmark buildings, this season including St. Joseph Center Chapel, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, UWM’s Helene Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts (the former Temple Emanu-El), and Wisconsin Lutheran College.

The chronological scope of the season runs from early runic tunes and Gregorian chants to French and Italian Baroque, and (in a special pre-season event) beyond into music of Schubert, Meyerbeer, and Beethoven. A Medieval Christmas program, offered on two dates, and an array of Machaut, Dufay, and Josquin should protect Sullivan from the most extreme purist complaints. The roster of artists includes young artists and seasoned performers from Estonia, England, Canada, and the United States – from both coasts! The singular qualities of early Mediterranean music will be enhanced by world-renowned kanun player – Tamer Pinarbasi, Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road percussionist – Shane Shanahan, and oud player Jesse Kotansky.

With so much fascinating music to include in the season, Sullivan wasn’t able to limit the programming to the usual six concerts. So EMN has added a special Pre-Season Concert, bringing together for the first time three stellar solo performers for a fascinating exploration of the history of the clarinet!

Tickets for the full or partial series, and for each individual concert (as well as the separate pre-season concert) are now available online at EarlyMusicNow.org, by phone at 414.225.3113, or by mail at 759 N Milwaukee St #420, Milwaukee 53202. Single ticket prices in three seating categories range from $25-$50 for adults and seniors to $10-$25 for students (six or older). Season packages for 6, 5, or 4 concerts offer various discounts, with students at half-price in all categories. Students can attend for as little as $7, and adults/seniors as little as $22. Full season subscribers receive an additional guest pass for the concert of their choice. There are no added fees of any kind.

Special Pre-Season Event
"Do You Speak Chalumeau?"
Sept 7 (Sa) 8:00 – Wisconsin Lutheran College

A fascinating exploration of the development of the clarinet, through its earlier forms as the chalumeau and basset horn. Eric Hoeprich, the renowned international authority on all things clarinet, will be joined by Clara Rottsolk (soprano) and Byron Schenkman (harpsichord and fortepiano) for this sampling of repertoire by Beethoven, Meyerbeer, Schubert, Weber, and early Viennese composers.

The Six-Concert Season
A - Heinavanker (Estonia)
Ancient Songs, Chants, and Hymns
Oct 12 (Sa) 5:00 – St. Joseph Center Chapel

Ancient runic songs, Gregorian chant, music of Hildegard, Estonian folk hymns, and Renaissance mass settings from the 14th century all demonstrate a mix of mythical essence and Christian influence, as sung by this young Estonian ensemble.

B – Pallade Musica (Montreal)
Terreno e vago
Nov 16 (Sa) 5:00 – St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

2012 winner of the Early Music America Baroque Performance Competition, this young ensemble performs 17th century Italian repertoire for violin, cello, theorbo, and harpsichord, exploring the characteristic binary emotional effects of terreno (earth=secular) and vago (reflection=spiritual) in music of Castello, Kapsberger, Marini, Scarlatti, and others.

C – Waverly Consort (New York)
The Christmas Story
Dec 7 (Sa) 5:00 and Dec 8 (Su) 3:00
St. Joseph Center Chapel

One of America's premier early music ensembles, performing the program that has been its hallmark for nearly forty years –a moving holiday celebration in Medieval drama and song.

D – Orlando Consort (London)
Machaut, and 15th Century Masters
Feb 15 (Sa) 5:00 – St Paul’s Episcopal Church

One of Britain's most respected vocal ensembles celebrates its 25th anniversary with Machaut's "Le Voir Dit," paired with an exploration of 15th and 16th century masterpieces by Dufay, Josquin, and Ockeghem.

E – East of the River (New York)
Levantera
Mar 15 (Sa) 5:00 – UWM Zelazo Center
(3:00 Auction and Chocolate Reception)

Haunting melodies, ancient songs, and brilliant dances interpreted by musicians with both classical and world music backgrounds. Recorder virtuosi Daphna Mor and Nina Stern join with world-renowned kanun player, Tamer Pinarbasi, percussionist Shane Shanahan and Jesse Kotansky on violin and oud, to explore Medieval music of the Mediterranean, traveling east through the Balkans to Armenia and the Middle East.

F – Four Nations Ensemble (New York)
The Paris of LeClair and Rameau
Apr 12 (Sa) 5:00 – UWM Zelazo Center

Leading exponents of period instrument and vocal performance since its founding in 1986, artists for this concert include soprano Dominique Labelle, flutist Colin St. Martin, violinist Tatiana Chulochnikova, cellist Loretta O'Sullivan, and harpsichordist Andrew Appel – performing cantatas of Clerambault and Rameau, sonatas of Leclair, and solo harpsichord works of Rameau.