Repast Ensemble to Perform German Baroque Masterworks
MADISON, NJ--Repast Baroque Ensemble, in its first appearance at Drew University, performs masterpieces from the German baroque on Friday, February 6, at 8:00PM.
Many music lovers regard J.S. Bach (1685–1750) as the one of the pinnacles of Western music. Repast Baroque Ensemble (Amelia Roosevelt, violin; John Mark Rozendaal, viola da gamba; and Avi Stein, harpsichord) puts Bach in context by exploring the generation of German composers which preceded and influenced him, but have since been largely neglected: Dietrich Buxtehude and his contemporaries have left us dances, fugues, arias, and fantasies that stir the emotions, stimulate the mind, and even occasionally tickle the funny bone. The young Bach admired his predecessors and built upon their work to develop his own style. Repast’s program concludes with two of Bach’s pieces that represent the crowning achievements of their genres: his Violin Sonata in E minor and his Trio Sonata in G Major.
Described as “A graceful, energetic ensemble...” and acclaimed for its "vital performances" and “robust” playing by Allan Kozinn of The New York Times, Repast is a collaboration of three period-instrument virtuosi presenting vivid renditions of music of the baroque era. The group’s name, meaning a meal or a feast, is a double-entendre: out of the revival of past
music comes a delectable, spiritually nourishing experience.
Repast’s current season includes performances at Midtown Concerts, Brooklyn’s Bargemusic, and a tour to Victoria, B.C., Canada. Repast will perform at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles in the 2009-10 season.
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Posted: January 12, 2009
