Early Music Concert

The Curtis Institute of Music’s iconic Student Recital Series returns to the stage for a vibrant season of performances. Curtis hosts a variety of chamber, ensemble and graduation recitals this spring. Admission requires advance reservation and is complimentary.

In an era when all music making was live and composed to order the
Curtis Collegium is pleased to team up with members of the Vocal
Department to present these three Cantatas written specifically for
Wedding celebrations marking the three portions of matrimony: the
betrothal, the ceremony and the banquet.

Part of the job of a composer writing for the royal court was to write
Odes of homage for various occasions such as birthdays, a return from
battle, recovery from illness and of course, Weddings. Purcell’s
Wedding Ode “from hardy climes and dangerous tools of war” was written
for the marriage of Prince George of Denmark to Princess Anne in 1683.
Although the libretto seems borderline embarrassing to our modern
ears, it contains some of Purcell’s most charming music and sumptuous
string writing. Of particular note is the ground bass tenor aria “the
sparrow and the gentle dove” birds that were associated with offerings
to the gods for a prosperous marriage.

Cantata BWV 196 “Der Herr denket an uns” was likely composed in and
around 1707/08 when J.S. Bach was in his early twenties. The listener
might not recognize this early work which is much more of a tribute to
composers such as Buxtehude, Bohm and Pachelbel. Following a short
instrumental Sinfonia with a gentle italianate dotted rhythm motive
there is an opening closing chorus that is a true tour de force of
vocal virtuosity. In between is a gentle soprano aria that is in
dialogue with an elegant solo violin obligato followed by a true
stunner of a tenor bass duet accompanied with the full rich string
section.

Finally we come to the entertainment of the Wedding Banquet. Johann
Chrisoph Bach, who was Sebastian’s Uncle was singled out by the latter
as being the “profound” composer in the large and musically talented
Bach family. Although the text i taken from the “Song of Songs” the
most erotic book of the bible, there is a little story that has been
developed of the two lovers who are looking to find a quiet spot in a
garden to express their desire and longing for one another. At the
heart of the piece is a ten minute Chaconne, i.e. a ground bass that
repeats over and over with the text “My beloved is mine and I am
his…for I am sick with love”. A solo violin expounds sensuously over
a string section of three violas and continuo, that smolders with
deep passion! Finally, it is time for the party and everyone is
eating, drinking and letting loose! Could this be a bit of an
autobiographical portrait of what the real Bach Family gatherings were
like when cousins, aunts and all extended family would get together
for a good time?

The Edith L. and Robert Prostkoff Memorial Concert Series. The Curtis Institute of Music receives funding from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Endowment for the Arts.