On Sunday, April 21st, 2013 at 6 p.m., Salon/Sanctuary Concerts will present PLUM BLOSSOM AND FLEUR-DE-LYS, War and Peace in the Forbidden City and Versailles, performed by Four Nations Ensemble and Music from China.
The Four Nations Ensemble:
Charles Brink, flute
Aaron Brown, violin
John Mark Rozendaal, gamba
Loretta O'Sullivan, cello
Andrew Appel, harpsichord
Music from China:
Wang Guowei, erhu
Sun Li, pipa
Wang Junling zheng
Susan Cheng, daruan
Music from China joins forces with Four Nations to present a panorama of War and Peace from history's the two great court societies. From the gentle rocking of lullabies to the clangor of arms and armor, see how these musics contradict and complement each other in one of Four Nations' most fascinating programs, which has been presented by The Smithsonian Institution at the Sackler Gallery, The Boston Early Music Festival, and on UK tour by the BBC.
The elegant mirrored hall of the Abigail Adams Smith Auditorium sets the stage for repertoire from the courts of Versailles and Beijing, where delicacy rather than turbulence constituted the height of expression.
Founded in 1986, The Four Nations Ensemble brings together soloists who are leading exponents of period instrument and vocal performance to present great music from the Renaissance through the Viennese Classical masterpieces of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. For two decades, Four Nations has developed a leading presence on the early music scene in New York and across the country. With a core ensemble of harpsichord or fortepiano, violin(s), flute, and cello, the Ensemble explores and performs the major masterpieces of the 17th and 18th centuries, from trio sonata to piano trio and quartet. Four Nations has performed at major houses and series throughout the United States including The Kennedy Center and Lincoln Center. The Ensemble has participated in festivals including The Boston Early Music Festival, New York's Mostly Mozart, Amherst Festival, New Haven's International Festival of Arts & Ideas, Virginia Waterfront International Arts Festival, Chautauqua, The Indiana Early Music Festival, The Redwoods Festival in Santa Rosa, California, and Brasilseguridade in Rio de Janeiro.
Music from China invokes the subtlety and power of both traditional and Chinese music. Musicians well versed in the music of past and present open windows to Chinese culture and stand at the forefront of 21st century Chinese music.
Founded by Artistic Director Jessica Gould in 2009, Salon/Sanctuary Concerts offers the special chance to hear pre-Romantic music in intimate venues that complement the historical context of the repertoire. Pleased to present special projects that cast alight on historical issues throughthe prism of music, Salon/Sanctuary takes pride in many special interdisciplinary performances featuring luminaries from the worlds of opera, theater, film, and dance. The series has garnered critical praise for its innovative programming, and continues to attract a diverse audience for its path breaking offerings.
PROGRAM
Premier Concert (1741) J. Ph. Rameau
(1683-1764)
La Coulicam-Rondement
La Livri-Rondeau gracieux
Le Vézinet-Gaiment sans vitesse
The Moon over Fortified Pass, based on a Poem of Li Bai Han Dynasty
Troisiéme Suitte for flute and continuo (1708) Jacques Hotteterre
(1674-1763)
Allemande: La Cascade de St. Cloud
Sarabande: La Guignon
Courante: L'indiferente
Rondeau: Le plaintif
Menuet: Le Mignon
Gigue: L'Italienne
Ambush on 10 sides Qing Dynasty
Intermission
Le Dodo François Couperin
La Triomphante (1668-1733)
Rondeau: Bruit de Guerre
Allegresse des vainqueurs
Fanfare
Tombeau de Mons. St, Colombe Marin Marais
Quatrieme Concert F. Couperin
Prelude
Allemande
Quietude Traditional
Sarabande
The General's Command Zheng solo
Forlane
Videos