Program Listings - May 2005

May 2
05-18
Tickling the Ebonies
So you thought all keyboards were created equal! Well, think again. Harpsichords, clavichords, virginals, spinets, fortepianos, etc., are all part of the same keyed up family. Each has its own sound and soul. We'll hear from harpsichordist Elizabeth Wright, and fortepianist Edmund Battersby. Plus a new release from the group Phantasm.

May 9
05-19
When Johann Comes Marching Home Again
The 30 Years War took its toll on Northern Europe from 1618 to 1648. Musicians went off to war, and performances became lean. Harmonia takes a look at the musical realities of war. We'll be joined by recorder virtuoso, Eva Legene. Plus, a new release from The Harp Consort performing dance tunes and evocative ballads from the island of Guernsey.

May 16
05-20
The Early Bottom Line
From the windy to the wacky to the wild, all types of strange instruments reside at the bottom of Renaissance and Baroque music. You'll meet such bottom-dwellers like the violone, the lirone, and our all-time favorite - the sackbut. We'll hear from baroque bassoon virtuoso, Michael McCraw. Plus, a new release of music by by Geminiani and Veracini, performed by baroque violinist Rüdiger Lotter, and harpsichordist Olga Watts.

May 23
05-21
Cranking through the Ages
What has a neck, a belly, a back, a wheel and a crank? It's not a trick question, it's a hurdy-gurdy! Mystifying, maligned and misunderstood, the hurdy-gurdy is the oldest mechanical instrument in the Western world, going back to the 10th century. Harmonia explores this cranked wonder from its origins in the cloisters and cathedrals of Spain and France to its place on the modern concert stage. We'll hear from guests Robert Green and Wolodymyr Smishkewych. Prepare to circumnavigate the world of this intriguing instrument! And, no…it doesn't come with a monkey.

May 30
05-22
Star of the Ocean (aka -- Ave Maris Stella)
The Virgin Mary has been given many names. One of the most poetic is "Star of the Ocean" We'll follow these settings through the ages. Plus, a new release of music by Thomas Crecquillon, featuring the Egidius Consort.

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