City celebrates early music all year

By Jen McShane
Collegian Staff
March 21, 2007

When people think of the Renaissance, the images that come to mind might be Shakespeare, Queen Elizabeth or England. However, the term Renaissance refers to an entire movement of rebirth that spread throughout all of the European countries. France and Germany played key roles in the Renaissance movement, especially in the music of the time period.

Philadelphia honors the music of this time period with its Early Music Festival, which focuses not only on music of the Renaissance period, but also music from the years after the Renaissance. The Early Music Festival is a year-long event hosted by Philadelphia which ends May 11. Much of the music that one will hear during the festival is what many of us would call chamber music. The term early music refers to the works that were composed in Europe before the classical music period but after ancient music.

The festival is already running this year, but there are still plenty of events that La Salle students can check out. For example, on Friday, April 6, there will be a concert called Verdi Requiem at the Kimmel Center. Vox Ama Deus will perform a concert that is dedicated to fallen military personnel from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as those still serving. Running time is 90 minutes and tickets start at $20. This promises to be a reflective concert and a great way to spend Good Friday.

With Passover right around the corner, some may be interested in exploring Jewish culture through music. At the University of Pennsylvania’s Irvine Auditorium March 31 and at Haverford College April 1, there will be a show called Hoshanna!, which will feature Hebrew music from the High Baroque period.

The performance by the Philadelphia Baroque Orchestra, Tempesta di Mare, includes works composed in the styles of George Frideric Handel and Joseph Haydn. The combination of these two artists’ styles represents the freedom for experimentation in the Enlightenment period. Tickets for Hoshanna! start at $10.

One of the highlights of the Early Music Festival this year is the 10-day Bach Festival Week 2007 which runs through Sunday, March 25. This celebration highlights the great composer Johann Sebastian Bach and his many musical works. There will be different events all over the city to commemorate this great man.

Simone Dinnerstein will be playing some of Bach’s greatest pieces Thursday, March 22, at the Trinity Center for Urban Life on Spruce Street. She recently performed Bach pieces in her New York City debut at Carnegie Hall. A pianist, Dinnerstein will also be playing some pieces of Beethoven’s as well.

At St. Mark’s Church on Locust Street Saturday, March 24, there will be a display of some of Bach’s most festive Cantatas, including his renowned Wedding Cantata. This is still played at weddings worldwide even today.

The week devoted to Bach culminates with a birthday celebration for him Sunday, March 25. This year Bach will be 322 years old, and his party will feature musical demonstrations along with food and plenty of activities. The party occurs at Presbyterian Church on Germantown Avenue in Chestnut Hill and tickets are $15.

The Bach festival is just one of the celebrations that Philadelphia will offer during the Early Music Festival that runs until May 11.

mcshanej2@lasalle.edu