The SunBreak » early music guild

A Celtic Musical Pilgrimage to Santiago

Philippa Kiraly — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 04:49:45 +0000

Galicia is the part of northern Spain near Portugal and it was there, centuries ago, that music and instruments came together to form a distinct musical genre, brought by Celtic peoples who made pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela. Galician Carlos Nunez plays the Galician bagpipes (known as gaita), related to but not quite the same … Continue reading →

From the old world to the new

Philippa Kiraly — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 02:13:03 +0000

Jordi Savall brought his Hesperion XXI back to Seattle Friday night together with Tembembe Ensamble Continuo, and the two groups amalgamated to play Baroque music from Spain and South America. Under the auspices of the Early Music Guild, the performance at Town Hall drew a packed house of not only early music devotees but many … Continue reading →

What We’re Hearing This Month: Classical Music Picks For November

Dana Wen — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 19:00:10 +0000

After the many musical treats (no tricks!) of October, the classical music season is in full swing here in Seattle. November's calendar abounds with visits from touring ensembles and soloists, as well as exciting performances by local groups. Head to a concert hall and take advantage of this month's diverse musical offerings, especially before the holiday music deluge blankets the concert calendar for December.

Bagby’s Beowulf Entrances, Once More, an Entire Hall

Philippa Kiraly — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 21:54:36 +0000

Bagby, cofounder of the European medieval music performing group, Sequentia, has for many years now researched not just the stories performed by the “singers of tales” around the early Middle Ages (the 6th and 7th centuries), but how they were performed, how sung, how accompanied. Beowulf would nowadays be called a singspiel, a story sung and spoken.

The King’s Singers Provide Enough “Love & War” to Fill Town Hall

Philippa Kiraly — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 22:03:52 +0000

The first half included six pairs of madrigals from the late 16th to early 17th centuries from Italy and England: the Italian from Il Trionfo di Dori—madrigals commissioned in praise of a bride, Elisabetta Zustinian—and the English from The Triumphs of Oriana, a similar collection inspired by the former, this one in praise of another Elizabeth, Queen of England.

Seattle Baroque Orchestra Fills Town Hall with Bach Cantata Fans

Philippa Kiraly — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 18:08:40 +0000

With her agile voice, Rottsolk made the most of her lilting, upbeat aria in No. 155, tricky to sing with a fast vocal line all over the register. For several recitatives and arias, both in No. 155 and for almost all of No. 134, Bach joins alto and tenor together in duet. Lane and Mueller sounded absolutely right together, their voices expressively blending and moving apart with the music.