St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble Presents Circling Bach, 2/25-3/2

Continuing its tradition of great Baroque music performance, St. Luke’s Chamber Ensemble takes a fresh look at the period with music that extends from Salamone Rossi to C.P.E. Bach. Circling Bach, a program of five works that span the years just before and after the life of J.S. Bach, will be presented in three concerts taking place at Brooklyn Museum (Saturday February 25, 2012) and The Morgan Library & Museum (Wednesday February 29 and Friday March 2, 2012).

Through repertoire that showcases a range of virtuosity, the renowned musicians of St. Luke’s Chamber Ensemble will explore the evolution of Baroque compositional forms and emerging trends in harmony and instrumentation. Ensemble members cellist Myron Lutzke and flutist Elizabeth Mann will perform as featured soloists.

Three pieces by the Italian Salamone Rossi open the program, revealing the new emphasis that was placed on harmony over counterpoint between the Renaissance and early-Baroque periods. Following this is Antonio Vivaldi’s Concerto for Cello in A minor—a showpiece written at a time when the cello was only beginning to be featured as a solo instrument.

One of George Frideric Handel’s illustrious concerti grossi, originally performed during the intermission of one of his oratorios, displays the composer’s astonishing ability to repurpose older musical material. Next, C.P.E. Bach’s Flute Concerto in D minor exhibits the late-Baroque conception of a concerto as a form of chamber music, with extended solo flute passages that call for a virtuoso of considerable skill. Closing the program is Francesco Geminiani’s Variations on ‘La Folia,’ an arrangement of a work originally composed by Geminiani’s teacher Arcangelo Corelli, which runs the gamut of challenging violin techniques.

These performances are dedicated to the memory of St. Luke’s beloved principal bassoonist Dennis Godburn (1949 – 2011), whose great artistry continues to inspire its musicians.

OSL’s 2011/2012 chamber music series will continue to explore creative influences with Life Stories (April 28, May 2 and 4, 2012), which presents music that was inspired by the friends and family of two very different composers: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and American composer, Ingram Marshall.

The Friday March 2 performance of Circling Bach will feature OSL’s 45below young member event Bach on the Rocks. After paying an annual membership fee matching their age, audience members under 45 years old can attend OSL’s chamber concert, gain all-day admission to The Morgan Library & Museum and receive a free drink at a concert afterparty around the corner at the Galway Hooker Pub (7 East 36th St.) featuring a surprise musical guest. The entire event package costs $15 (a $95 value) and has limited availability. Packages will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, visit 45below.org.