Early music gems revived at UNT concerts

Friday, February 13, 2015 - 19:58
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What/When: Two performances of early instrumental and vocal works from historically significant centers of musical activity will feature the UNT Baroque Orchestra and the Collegium Singers. Drawing from UNT’s collection of more than 250 period instruments, the programs will present historically informed performances of pieces composed centuries ago.

“Music at the Habsburg Court” takes place at 8 p.m. Feb. 20 (Friday). “London, a Musical Center” takes place at 8 p.m. April 24 (Friday).

Where: Winspear Hall in the Murchison Performing Arts Center, 2100 Interstate 35 Frontage Road, Denton.

Tickets: $10 for the public. $8 for UNT faculty, staff and Alumni Association members; children; non-UNT students; and seniors over age 55. Free for UNT students. Students must reserve their free ticket at the Murchison Performing Arts Center box office. Purchase tickets at https://thempac.music.unt.edu.

DENTON, Texas (UNT) — Early music ensembles at the University of North Texas College of Music will recreate vocal and instrumental masterpieces from two historically important centers of musical activity between the 16th and 18th centuries.

The UNT Collegium Singers, under the direction of Richard Sparks, and the UNT Baroque Orchestra, under the direction of Paul Leenhouts, will perform in “Music at the Habsburg Court” at 8 p.m. Feb. 20 (Friday) and “London, a Musical Center” at 8 p.m. April 24 (Friday). Both will be held in Winspear Hall, which is located inside of the Murchison Performing Arts Center at 2100 Interstate 35 Frontage Road in Denton. Admission ranges from $8 to $10.

Using voices and period instruments like the baroque strings, lutes and an early version of the trombone known as the sackbut, the Habsburg program will revive seldom-heard pieces composed during the height of the Habsburg Empire’s role as a cultural center.

The Habsburg repertoire will include pieces from Straus and Muffat and several other 17th and 18th century selections with UNT students as soloists. Biber’s Requiem in F minor will feature vocalists Julianna Emanski, Elizabeth McGee, John Irving, Dwight Jilek, Natalie Manning, Barrett Radzium, Nathaniel Mattingly, Fabiana González, Matthew Brady, Tucker Bilodeau and Eleni Kotzabassis. Vejvanovský’s Sonata Venatoria will be performed with soloists Andreas Stolzfus and Trevor Duell, baroque trumpets, and the soloist for Monn’s cello concerto in G minor will be Fran Leboš, baroque cello.

The London program will bring to life the works of Purcell, Arne, Handel and other 16th to 18th century composers. Through the use of voices, as well period instruments such as the portative organ, the harpsichord and the baroque trumpet, recorder and oboe, the audience will get a sense of what an early music performance would have been like in past centuries.

The rarity of period instruments can make it challenging to reproduce some early music; however, UNT’s collection of more than 250 period instruments makes it possible to present a historically informed performance of these works.

“We are able to create a musically luxurious environment,” said Leenhouts, director of UNT’s early music studies program, one of the largest in the country. “Through the vast number of period-trained vocalists and instrumentalists on stage, we’re close to what full courts had in past times.”

In addition to the audience’s rediscovery of rarely-heard pieces, the concert allows student musicians a way to extend subjects from the classroom onto the stage. 

“One thing we’re trying to do with our ensembles is think long term – at least two years,” said Sparks, chair of conducting and ensembles at UNT. “We try to perform music from all the centuries we cover in our courses so our students are able to familiarize themselves with the repertoire and the historical context. It’s our way of broadening the experience of music.”

The UNT College of Music performers will repeat the London concert in June at the Boston Early Music Festival. The biennial festival is the foremost gathering of its kind in North America and includes performances by medieval, Renaissance and Baroque music specialists. 

About the UNT College of Music

The UNT College of Music is one of the largest and most respected comprehensive music schools in the country. More than 1,600 music students attend UNT each year, participating in more than 50 widely varied ensembles and pursuing specialized studies in performance, composition, music education or music scholarship. UNT faculty members and students have made appearances on the world's finest stages and have produced numerous recordings, many receiving Grammy awards and nominations. Distinguished UNT alumni can be found around the globe, in top music ensembles, opera companies, universities and schools.

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