Join us as the Tallahassee Bach Parley presents Crossing the Alps: Vivaldi, Neighbors, and Friends!

When: Saturday, November 9th Open Dress Rehearsal at 3:00 pm & Sunday, November 10th Concert at 3:00 pm

Where: St. John's Episcopal Church, 211 North Monroe Street or view Livestream on Sunday at 3:00 via bachparley.org

More Details: $10 suggested donation, free childcare available Sunday

Performers: Valerie Prebys, Gesa Kordes, Eva Amsler, Don Fader, Maya Johnson, Kim Jones, Melanie Punter, and Shalev Ad-El.

For additional information about the Tallahassee Bach Parley, including the Bach Parley String Academy music school visit www.bachparley.org.

Tallahassee Bach Parley presents Crossing the Alps: Vivaldi, Neighbors, and Friends

“Crossing the Alps: Vivaldi, Neighbors, and Friends” is the theme of the upcoming Bach Parley performances on November 9 and 10, both at 3:00 PM at St. John’s Episcopal Church. The program features diverse styles including works of Vivaldi, Telemann, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, and Francesco Mancini. Recorder virtuoso Don Fader describes the “Crossing the Alps” theme in this way:

“The musical connections between Italy and Germany go far back into the Middle Ages but were particularly important in the 18th century. Germany and the north of Europe had long been both as a magnet for tours and as a source of publishing fame for Italian composers.

Most of Vivaldi’s concertos were published in Amsterdam, and they in turn influenced major German composers such as Bach, Telemann, and Johann Joachim Quantz, the flutist and composer in service of Frederick the Great in Berlin. Vivaldi himself traveled to the north, which seems to have influenced his increased use of counterpoint and interest in pieces for multiple instruments.

Indeed, Quantz famously called the mid-century German music the “mixed style” for its kaleidoscopic combination of different national elements, a characteristic that he found particularly in the works of Telemann. The program highlights these connections in its variety of different styles, textures, and different genres from Italy and Germany.”

Music Director Valerie Prebys and Gesa Kordes will play baroque violin, along with Eva Amsler, traverso, Don Fader, recorder, and introducing Maya Johnson, viola. Long time Bach Parley musicians Kim Jones, baroque cello, and Melanie Punter, bass, will play with harpsichordist Shalev Ad-El to round out the basso continuo group.

The Bach Parley performs on period instruments – harpsichord, baroque style stringed instruments with gut strings, natural trumpet without valves or holes, and an early version of the flute made of wood and without keys called a traverso. The French word “parley” means discussion, so the commentary provided by Valerie Prebys is a unique element of Bach Parley concerts. This commentary includes historical context about the composers and the period instruments and offers suggestions about what to listen for in the music, letting the audience into our process and why we love this music.

The Tallahassee Bach Parley is also the umbrella organization for a non-profit music school, The Bach Parley String Academy. It is now in its ninth year offering violin, viola, and cello lessons at St. John’s Episcopal church.

For additional information about the Tallahassee Bach Parley, including the Bach Parley String Academy music school, visit www.bachparley.org.