Evento

Before Bach - Music for Peace in a Time of War

"Before Bach": Music for Peace in Times of War
Choral works of some of the great masters of the German Baroque of the 17th and early 18th centuries

The program presents Cantatas and Motets for solo voice, and ensembles of four, five and eight (double choir) voices with soloists and period instruments by German Baroque composers before J.S. Bach: Heinrich Schütz (15851672), Franz Tunder (16141667), Dietrich Buxtehude (c. 16371707), Johann Pachelbel (16531706).

All of these composers were strong figures in the development of a new national style of sacred Baroque music in German speaking territories. They all studied at the source: with the great Italian masters, whose influence shows in the different forms of echo choirs (cori spezzati), and the newly developed concertato-style (dialog) between the voices and the instruments.

Julianne Baird Soprano
Nicholas Tamagna Countertenor
Steven Fasano Baritone
Crescendo Chorus
With voices from the Berkshire Children's Chorus and local schools,Crescendo Period Instrument Orchestra
Christine Gevert Conductor

*Pre-concert talk begins 30 minutes before the performance