Tallahassee Bach Parley presents “En garde, Bach!”

Where: In-person at St. John’s Episcopal Church, or view Livestream on Sunday at 3:00 PM
Event: “En garde, Bach!”
When: Saturday, 3/1/25 Open Dress Rehearsal, 3:00 PM; Sunday, 3/2/25 Concert, 3:00 PM
Where: St. John’s Episcopal Church, 211 North Monroe Street
More: $10 suggested donation; free childcare available Sunday
Website: www.BachParley.org

Contact: Valerie Prebys musicdirector@bachparley.org

“En garde, Bach!” is the theme of the upcoming Bach Parley performances on March 1 and 2, both at 3:00 PM at St. John’s Episcopal Church. The program features J. S. Bach’s beloved Orchestral Suite in B minor, BVW 1067, which features Eva Amlser on baroque flute, also called traverso.

The traverso plays such a major role in this B minor Suite that it could legitimately be called a solo flute concerto. The title may not be familiar, but the audience will no doubt recognize many of the different dance movements. Bach’s B minor Suite is often included in “Bach’s Greatest Hits” lists.

For this piece, Bach was heavily influenced by musical styles from France. To illustrate this connection, Eva Amsler, Kim Jones, and Shalev Ad-El will perform the Sonata in D major, Op. 8. No. 2 by French composer Jean-Marie Leclair. And to round out the program we will start with a concerto for four violins by the lesser known composer, Unico Wilhelm van Wassenaer.

Music Director Valerie Prebys and familiar guests Gesa Kordes, Martie Perry, and Miriam Tellechea will play baroque violin, Maya Johnson, viola, along with Eva Amsler, traverso flute. 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.