BACH TO FOLK

SATURDAY, 19 AUGUST 2023

| 7.30pm at Church of the Immaculate Conception,

Knightstown with Darragh Morgan, Maighréad McCrann, Lilly

Kettle (Young Artist) Violin Fiona Winning, Rose Redgrave, Kevin

O’Loughlin (Young Artist) Viola Seth Parker Woods, Tim Gill, Alona Kliuchka (Young Artist) Cello Catriona Ryan Flute, David Adams

Harpsichord, & Ronan Dunne Double Bass

This concert is dedicated to the memory of our dear friend and festival supporter Peter MacNamara who recently sadly passed away. Peter was a beacon of enthusiasm for the festival, and we know he would have loved this programme of Bach Brandenburg Concerti.

Programme

Johann Sebastian Bach ‘Brandenburg’ Concerto No. (1685 – 1750) 3 in G major, BWV 1048

Bach was in the employ of Prince Leopold of Cöthen from 1717 to 1723 and composed much instrumental ensemble music there, including these concerti. The title ‘Brandenburg Concertos’ is due to the dedication to the Margrave of Brandenburg, Christian Ludwig. Bach did respond to an invitation to write some works for the Margrave although nothing financially came from it, but these seminal works remain. The three of the ‘Brandenburg Concertos’ that you will hear this evening demonstrate audacious and inventive instrumental combinations. No two of the six are alike! Concerto No. 3 is scored in a way where everyone is a soloist – three violins, three violas and three cellos (plus bass and harpsichord). It is a work that is lively and driving, characterized by a jolly rhythmic drive that is practically unceasing in its zest and vivacity.

Danish String Quartet (arr.) Selection from Woodworks

The Danish String Quartet is a classical string quartet with a passion for Nordic folk music. They’ve brought their unique arrangements of Scandinavian folk tunes to the concert stage and CD. ‘We are first and foremost a classical string quartet, we spend most of our time playing music by masters such as Beethoven and Bartok. Alongside this repertoire though, we’ve been digging into the roots of our local music tradition – Nordic folk music. For us traditional Nordic folk music is unique. It may reflect a different, simpler time, but we find this music incredibly relevant and meaningful to play. For several years, we experimented with bringing this music to the concert stage as a classical string quartet. In September 2013 we decided to spend a week in the Danish countryside arranging and recording a handful of our favourite tunes. The setup was simple: we had no recording label, no long-term plan, and we just barely managed to cover the costs via a crowdfunding campaign. Following the completion of recording, we sent it to Dacapo Records, and they liked what they heard. Wood Works became a reality!’

Arvo Pärt Summa (b.1935)

'I have developed a highly formalised compositional system, which I have been using to write my music for twenty years. Summa is the most strict and enigmatic work in this series,' said Arvo Pärt in 1994. The neutral title itself embodies the essence of the content as the work is based on the text of the Latin Credo. The great simplicity of the piece masks its complexity. The underlying rules ensure that on the surface a cycle of continuous change is created while the deep structure possesses an order of stillness. (Saale Kareda).

Erberk Eryilmaz

Bolulu Ama Rasim (Blind Rasim of (b. 1989) Bolu)

Turkish-American composer and performer Erberk Eryılmaz is recognized for bringing the energy of the folk music of his homeland to the concert stage with a creative and dramatic approach. His recent album of chamber works, "Dances of the Yogurt Maker" won a Grammy Award with producer Judith Sherman and received two gold medals at Global Music Awards in 2022. His compositions and performances have been featured multiple times on Turkish State Radio and American Public Media's Performance Today and have received praise by Fanfare Magazine, Andante, CNN Turk, Cumhuriyet, Hürriyet, Sanattan Yansımalar, as well as the Washington Post, which describes his music as a “dervish-like explosion.” This piece for string quartet is an immediate delve into these worlds.

- INTERVAL -

Ignatius Sancho Minuet 4; Minuet 6; Le Jour de (1729 – 1780) Mav; Le Comtes desm Fées; Christmas Eve; L’Homme et la Femme; Les Nains; La Maison de la Reine; L’Etourderie de Catos

Ignatius Sancho was said to have been born into slavery on a ship crossing the Atlantic from Africa to the West Indies in 1729. He was the first published Black British composer that we know about. He published four collections of music during his lifetime, mostly songs and dances to be performed in private homes. He is said to have written a treatise on the theory of music, although this has never been found. (Brycchan Carey). As well as composing music, Sancho appeared on the stage, entertained many famous figures of literary and artistic London, and his portrait was painted by Thomas Gainsborough. He was the first African we know of to vote in a British election. A prolific writer, he wrote a large number of letters which were collected and published in 1782.

Johann Sebastian Bach ‘Brandenburg’ Concerto No. 5 in D major, BWV 1050

Concerto No. 5 in D major spotlights the flute, violin and harpsichord, at the time a common chamber ensemble, but here given the limelight as you will hear, notably the harpsichord, coming out of its supporting role.

Johann Sebastian Bach ‘Brandenburg’ Concerto No. 6 in B flat major, BWV 1051

1. Allegro

2. Adagio ma non tanto

3. Allegro

Concerto No. 6 in Bb major has a wonderful new sound world with particular focus on two solo violas and two cellos (replacing the original viole da gamba) in an ensemble excluding violins.