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Renowned Folger Consort to Present Musical
Tales of Mary
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. -- Presenting
the music of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance as it was
performed in the 12th and 13th centuries is a formidable
task, and modern performance ensembles face a number of challenges
in the endeavor. Even after the musicians have mastered instruments
and vocal ranges that are specific only to that period's
music, they must devise effective ways to engage the audience
and translate the ancient -- but entertaining -- lyrical
content.
The Folger Consort, the ensemble-in-residence
at the Folger Shakespeare Library that presents music primarily
from the Middle Ages and Renaissance, will provide such a
translation during "Illuminations," a multimedia
performance of music, text and images from two famous medieval
Spanish collections. The concert -- which is free, open to
the public and wheelchair accessible -- will take place at
7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 21, in the Helen Hills Hills Chapel,
Smith College. "Illuminations" will feature selections
from the "Cantigas de Santa Maria," a collection
of more than 400 medieval songs about the Virgin Mary assembled
at the court of Alfonso the Wise, King of Castile and Leon
(1252-1284), a renowned patron of the arts, and from the "Las
Huelgas Codex," a compilation of music from the early
14th century, arranged here for instrumental ensemble.
To
assist the reception of these ancient pieces, the concert
will include projections of the original lyrics and illustrations,
along with modern translations of the 800-year-old Galician-Portuguese
texts. The lyrics praise the Virgin Mary and recount her
intercessions on behalf of sinners and those in need.
The
Folger Consort, which is renowned for its loyal and authentic
interpretations and presentations of ancient musical sources,
is an ensemble of six musicians who present music from
the 12th through the 20th centuries on period instruments
such
as lutes, the citole, harp, recorder and medieval fiddles,
as well as in ancient vocal styles. The group is led by
artistic directors and founding members Robert Eisenstein,
director
of the Five College Early Music Program, and Christopher
Kendall, director of the School of Music at the University
of Maryland.
The Folger Shakespeare Library,
located in Washington, D.C., sponsors numerous events, performances
and exhibitions
related to British and European history from the 15th through
18th centuries. The library contains some 256,000 volumes
and features a substantial collection of works by William
Shakespeare.
"Illuminations" is presented in conjunction
with "Madonny Europy/Madonnas of Europe," an exhibition
in Helen Hills Hills Chapel of photographs of the Madonna
by Janusz Rosikon, which will be on display 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, through December 12. Admission is
free, and the chapel is wheelchair accessible.
The events
are part of a series at Smith that examines the influence
of Mary in European culture. For more information about
the concert or about the exhibition and related events, call
(413) 585-2750, or visit https://www.smith.edu/newsoffice/Releases/03-021.html.
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Office of College
Relations
Smith College
Garrison Hall
Northampton, Massachusetts 01063 |
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Marti
Hobbes
News Assistant
T (413) 585-2190
F (413) 585-2174
mhobbes@email.smith.edu
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