Monday, May 7
American Bach Soloists
Free Public Master Class with Debra Nagy, baroque oboe. One of three Master Classes ABS is presenting this season at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Witness the artistic transformations that make Master Classes so tremendously exciting, as performers and ABS musicians share their knowledge and insights. These events are free and open to the public.
7:30 PM
San Francisco Conservatory of Music
50 Oak Street, San Francisco
Free
[email protected], 415-621-7900
Friday, May 11
American Bach Soloists, Jeffrey Thomas, Conductor
J.S. Bach, Orchestral Suites 1–4. Historians have noted that Bach’s music is intensely infused with the spirit of dance, whether expressing joy, felicity, sorrow, or devotion. The musical forms of dance were some of the most essential and permeating components of music from the Baroque era. Those clearly defined elements determined tempos, moods or affects, and the structural architectures of the vast majority of Baroque musical works, both with texts and purely instrumental. Bach’s suites not only celebrate the dance, but also the phenomenal technical abilities of his musicians. Bach titled them “Ouvertures” referring to the grand movement that opens the work, followed by a suite of dances, all requiring the most virtuoso instrumentalists. All four Orchestral Suites will be presented in these concerts, full of exuberant sonority, captivating melody, and displays of virtuosity from ABS’s famous roster of “the best American specialists in early music” (The Washington Post).
8 PM
St. Stephen’s Church
3 Bay View Ave., Belvedere
Tickets online $35 to $89
415-621-7900, [email protected]
http://americanbach.org
South Bay Recorder Society
Monthly meeting, guest conductor Fred Palmer. New members and guests welcome.
7:30–10 PM
First Congregational Church of San Jose
1980 Hamilton Ave (at Leigh), San Jose
408-358-0878 or [email protected]
Saturday, May 12
American Bach Soloists, Jeffrey Thomas, Conductor
J.S. Bach, Orchestral Suites 1–4. Historians have noted that Bach’s music is intensely infused with the spirit of dance, whether expressing joy, felicity, sorrow, or devotion. The musical forms of dance were some of the most essential and permeating components of music from the Baroque era. Those clearly defined elements determined tempos, moods or affects, and the structural architectures of the vast majority of Baroque musical works, both with texts and purely instrumental. Bach’s suites not only celebrate the dance, but also the phenomenal technical abilities of his musicians. Bach titled them “Ouvertures” referring to the grand movement that opens the work, followed by a suite of dances, all requiring the most virtuoso instrumentalists. All four Orchestral Suites will be presented in these concerts, full of exuberant sonority, captivating melody, and displays of virtuosity from ABS’s famous roster of “the best American specialists in early music” (The Washington Post).
8 PM
First Congregational Church
2345 Channing Way, Berkeley
Tickets online $35 to $89
415-621-7900, [email protected]
http://americanbach.org
Santa Cruz Baroque Festival
“Eternal Baroque—New Music in Old Styles” Baroque music is, in some ways, familiar to us all. There are melodies and musical styles that were revolutionary in their time but merely commonplace to our modern ears. This concert seeks to take these time-honored styles and make them new again, to allow the audience to experience how ground-breaking these musical statements once were. Original works in High Baroque style by celebrated living composers Nicola Canzano, Martin Gaskell, Willem Ceuleers and others, including the cash prize winners of the Baroque Festival Bach Chorale Competition. With Vicki Melin, traverso; Lynn Tetenbaum and David Morris, violas da gamba; Vlada Moran, pipe organ; Nicola Canzano, harpsichord; and the UCSC Vocal Octet, conducted by Michael McGushin
7:30 P.M.
Peace United Church of Christ
900 High St, Santa Cruz
$25/$22/$10
Tickets online, email [email protected] or call 831-457-9693
Viola da Gamba Society/Pacifica Chapter
Monthly viol consort playing with guest coach Yukimi Kambe. Players of all levels welcome. Newcomers please phone ahead.
9 AM–3 PM
Hillside Church
1422 Navellier Street, El Cerrito
RSVP. Please email or phone ahead.
[email protected]
Sunday, May 13
American Bach Soloists, Jeffrey Thomas, Conductor
J.S. Bach, Orchestral Suites 1–4. Historians have noted that Bach’s music is intensely infused with the spirit of dance, whether expressing joy, felicity, sorrow, or devotion. The musical forms of dance were some of the most essential and permeating components of music from the Baroque era. Those clearly defined elements determined tempos, moods or affects, and the structural architectures of the vast majority of Baroque musical works, both with texts and purely instrumental. Bach’s suites not only celebrate the dance, but also the phenomenal technical abilities of his musicians. Bach titled them “Ouvertures” referring to the grand movement that opens the work, followed by a suite of dances, all requiring the most virtuoso instrumentalists. All four Orchestral Suites will be presented in these concerts, full of exuberant sonority, captivating melody, and displays of virtuosity from ABS’s famous roster of “the best American specialists in early music” (The Washington Post).
2 PM
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church
1111 O’Farrell St., San Francisco
Tickets online $35 to $89
415-621-7900, [email protected]
http://americanbach.org
Chamber Music San Francisco presents Archetti
“Brandenburg Concertos” These virtuosic, ebullient works reflect one of the happiest and most productive periods in Bach’s life, when he was the music director in the small town of Coethen, and they remain enduringly popular. Our annual tradition of presenting these merry masterpieces continues, featuring the dazzling string ensemble Archetti. Program includes J.S. Bach Brandenburg Concertos No. 3 and 6, H.I.F. Biber, Battalia; Antonio Vivaldi, Concerto in F Major for Four Violins; and canzonas of Giovani Gabrieli.
3 PM
Herbst Theatre
401 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco
$30 to $48
ticket info: http://www.chambermusicsf.org/
Continue reading next week’s calendar . . .
