Early Music Festival Week 3

We have five events this week, and it’s an interesting line-up

Friday Feb 17, 8:00, at St John United Church of Christ in Bellevue, KY, as part of their February music series “Music on the Avenue,” a duo of Baroque guitars. Rod Stucky, professor of guitar and lute at UC-CCM, and lutenist/guitarist/recording artist Chris Wilke will explore the music of this sometimes-overlooked instrument. Until the 18^th century, the lute was considered the king of instruments, but during the final century of the Baroque era the guitar started making inroads in popularity among both performers and composers. Rod and Chris will take us on a tour of this crucial century for the guitar.  Free.  http://catacoustic.com/event/rodney-stucky-and-christopher-wilke-baroque-guitars/?instance_id=402

Saturday Feb 18, 10am. This morning is your chance to participate in the most elemental music of all. Come and Sing! means everyone, regardless of experience, is welcome to give early music a try. Cambridge-trained choral conductor Matthew Swanson will be ringmaster as we raise our voices in madrigals, motets, rounds, chants, and other music that our ancestors knew and loved. The atmosphere is warm and supportive, and last year’s group had a terrific time, as I can personally testify. Don’t be shy – come and have fun on a Saturday morning!  Free, of course, and in the sun-drenched chapel at Church of the Redeemer in Hyde Park.  http://catacoustic.com/event/come-and-sing-2/?instance_id=404

Saturday, Feb 18, 4:00. Returning from last year, when it played to a packed house at Christ Church Cathedral downtown, Bach CantataFest is exactly what the name suggests. Five cantatas by Bach, (numbers 86, 95, 106, 131, 196, for those of you keeping score) sung by five choirs from around the city, including the Cincinnati Boychoir, the Walnut Hills High School Chamber Choir, the Edgecliff Vocal Ensemble from Xavier U, the Christ Church Cathedral Choir, and the hosting ensemble Collegium Cincinnati. If you love Bach, or if you love the high Baroque, or if you just love choral singing, you won’t want to miss this. Tickets $10.  http://catacoustic.com/event/bach-cantata-fest-2/?instance_id=406

Sunday Feb 19, 3:00. Catacoustic Consort is the Early Music Festival’s

hosting organization. Their annual concert is always a highlight of the Festival, but never more than this year. To our delight, we will be presenting the most renowned Baroque cellist in the world, Jaap ter Linden. He will perform music of Telemann, Bach, Geminiani, and others. Cancel your other plans – you may never again get a chance to hear this music played at this level. Tickets $25, $10 student.  http://catacoustic.com/event/catacoustic/?instance_id=408

Tuesday Feb 21, 12noon. Today’s lunchtime concert at Christ Church Cathedral downtown will feature the Cincinnati Recorder Consort. Eight musicians, most professional or semi-professional, offer up the entire recorder family, including giant bass instruments that stand on the floor and tiny sopraninos unplayable by all but the slimmest fingers. They’ll be playing music from the Renaissance (the divine William Byrd!) and the Baroque (the awesome Orlando Gibbons!).  Free. http://catacoustic.com/event/cincinnati-recorder-consort-2/?instance_id=410