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FOLGER CONSORT 2013 /14 SEASON OF EARLY MUSIC

FOLGER CONSORT 2014 /15 SEASON OF EARLY MUSIC

Five concerts inspired by visual works of art

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Engaging Washington-area audiences since 1977, Folger Consort is the early music ensemble-in-residence at the Folger Shakespeare Library. Founding Artistic Directors Robert Eisenstein and Christopher Kendall create programs that offer opportunities to discover and enjoy music from the medieval, Renaissance, and baroque periods. Whether in the Folger’s Elizabethan-styled theater, or in the grand spaces of Washington National Cathedral and Strathmore, Folger Consort and its internationally noted guest artists present historically informed, exquisitely performed concerts of early music. Appearances outside of its regular season include concerts at the Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore and the Stratford Summer Music Festival in Canada.

Folger Consort strives to deepen audiences’ understanding and appreciation of early music through seminars, discussions, recordings, and radio broadcasts. Unique collaborations with other programs of the Folger Shakespeare Library include participation in this fall’s Folger Institute workshop on Performing Restoration Shakespeare. Folger Consort performs with the finest early music specialists and has received five awards for Best Classical Chamber Ensemble from the Washington Area Music Awards.

FOLGER CONSORT

PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITIONIn 2014/15, Folger Consort celebrates the visual arts and exhibitions in a season of musical paintings of time and place.

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Artistic Directors Christopher Kendall and Robert Eisenstein

“Moving and spectacular... sensitive to the expressive dimensions of music centuries old while making it relevant to the present.” –The Washington Post

COURTING Music and Patronage in

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T he great virtuoso lutenist John Dowland aspired to be appointed to Elizabeth’s court, but to no avail. Along the way however, he did acquire the patronage of many nobles, including the King of Denmark and the Earl of Essex, one of Elizabeth’s favorites. In this program, Folger Consort performs the dances for five viols and lute that Dowland named for his patrons, along with consort songs and lute ayres of Shakespeare’s time and lyra viol pieces by Tobias Hume. Featuring tenor James Taylor and viol consort Arcadia Viols.

SEPTEMBER 26-28, 2014

ELIZABETH Shakespeare’s England

In the courts of Renaissance Italy, princes vied with each other in filling their chapels with the famous singer/composers from the North. As learned polyphony helped the rulers of Florence and Ferrara display their erudition and good taste, glimmers of a more popular native Italian style started appearing, first at the court of the Sforzas in Milan. Many of these new style works honored Mary, the most popular of all saints. With voices, winds, and strings, the Consort explores the contrast between these styles in this program of seasonal music by Josquin, Ockeghem, Obrecht, and Compère.

A RENAISSANCMusic of Flanders

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DECEMBER 16-23, 2014

CE CHRISTMAS and Italy circa 1500

THE ROAD TO Music of Medieval

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English music of the 13th and 14th centuries from cathedral, town, and country has a characteristic sweetness and cheerful liveliness not often found in continental music of the period. In this program of medieval music entirely fitting to the great space of Washington National Cathedral, the Consort performs a song mentioned in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, engaging dances, and ethereal motets from the Lady Masses celebrated in the side chapels of cathedrals, as well as sweet songs in Middle English and Latin. With medieval fiddle, winds, and acclaimed vocal ensemble Lionheart.

JANUARY 9-10, 2015AT WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL

CANTERBURY England

Thomas Sully’s painting focuses on the climactic scene in The Merchant of Venice when Portia asks for mercy from Shylock, and it was possibly inspired by performances of Fanny Kemble and her father Charles in these key roles. Painted for the Philadelphia collector who became the president of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Edward L. Carey, it was purchased by the Folgers in 1927.

THE MERCHANMusic and Poetry of

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Wh ether or not Shakespeare ever visited Venice, it is certainly true that musicians moved back

and forth very freely from Italy to London. Chief among these were the extraordinary wind players of the Bassano Family. Their remarkable music is heard here, with ayres by John Dowland and string music and songs by Salamone Rossi and Claudio Monteverdi. Accompanying the music, Sir Derek Jacobi and Richard Clifford join the Consort on stage with passages from Shakespeare’s great play. With violins, viol, lute, theorbo, and London’s Gabrieli Consort.

Gabrieli Consort wind ensemble

Derek Jacobi actor

guest artists include

Richard Clifford actor/director

Emily Noel soprano

NT OF VENICEShakespeare’s Play

The stunning Concert Hall at the Music Center at Strathmore, located at 5301 Tuckerman Lane in North Bethesda, features state-of-the-art acoustics as well as an enclosed walkway to the Grovesnor-Strathmore Metro station and parking garage. Please visit www.strathmore.org

ONE NIGHT ONLY FEBRUARY 27, 2015AT THE MUSIC CENTER AT STRATHMORE

Th e early 18th century is called the Age of Reason, and the appellation works as well for music as it does for navigation and all the sciences. In celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Act of Longitude, the Consort will explore the scientific and satirical in a late Baroque celebration of variety. Virtuoso cantatas, the brilliant and scientific harmonies of Jean-Philippe Rameau, and Georg Philipp Telemann’s amusing suite based upon Gulliver’s Travels will be performed with other treasures from an outward-looking age. With violins, traverso, viola da gamba, theorbo, harpsichord, and soprano Yulia Van Doren.

SHIPS, CLOCK Music of Telemann and

In conjunction with the Folger exhibition Ships, Clocks, and Stars: The Quest for Longitude, March through summer 2015, in partnership with the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London.

Krista Bennion Feeneyviolin

Yulia Van Dorensoprano

guest artists include

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APRIL 10-12, 2015

This painting shows the Royal Observatory at Greenwich in 1696.

longitude of places.” The Royal Observatory from Croom’s Hill, circa 1696 comes from the National Maritime Museum.© National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London

S, AND STARSOther Baroque Masters

BECOME A MEMBERWhen you subscribe, you can also become a Friend of the Folger Consort. Our members provide fundamental support and enjoy an insider’s view of all that the Folger Shakespeare Library has to offer through special receptions, talks, and gatherings, as well as discounts on tickets and merchandise.

Phone 202.544.7077Fax 202.544.7520Online www.folger.edu

Street parking is available. See www.folger.edu/directions for more information.

Take Metro to the Folger.Capitol South (blue/orange line), 4 blocks away

JOIN US!EARLY MUSIC SEMINARSLed by Robert Eisenstein, these lively seminars give music lovers a detailed look at the composers and their worlds. Wine receptions included.

Scan with your smartphone or tablet to hear music samples and download Folger Consort recordings on cdbaby.com. Recordings are also available for purchase at the Folger Shop at www.folger.edu/shop and on iTunes.

FOLGER CONSORT RECORDINGS

• SUBSCRIPTION to Folger Magazine

• Hill & Will DISCOUNT CARD for areas businesses and restaurants

• Exclusive access to PREMIUM SEATS

• SAVINGS over individual ticket prices

• Free ticket EXCHANGES

• SPECIAL OFFERS and invitations to other events

SUBSCRIBE TO ALL 5 CONCERTS! RECEIVE THESE BENEFITS ALL SEASON:

ORDER NOW FOLGER CONSORT 2014/151. PROVIDE YOUR INFORMATION

__________________________________________________________________________________Name__________________________________________________________________________________Address________________________________________________ ___________ ____________________City State Zip__________________________________________________________________________________E-mail Receive e-mail reminders prior to your ticketed performances and updates on other Folger programs. Folger Consort does not sell or trade your e-mail address.

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2. CHOOSE YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONPERFORMANCE DAY/TIME

Fridays at 8pm with pre-concert discussions Saturdays at 5pm (seated Sat at 8pm at Cathedral) Saturdays at 8pm Sundays at 2pm (seated Fri at 8pm at Cathedral)

All subscribers attend Merchant of Venice Fri 2/27 at 8pm

SEATING PREFERENCESAt the Folger, I wish to be seated in the Orchestra Balcony (accessible by stairs) At the Cathedral, I wish to be seated in the Front Nave Front Transept

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3. ADD EARLY MUSIC SEMINARS & EXTRA TICKETSThree Early Music Seminars # of Seats _________ x $30 = $___________

Bring friends at a special subscriber-only rate to:

DECEMBER’S A Renaissance Christmas # of Seats _________ x $40 = $___________ JANUARY’S Canterbury at Cathedral # of Seats _________ x $40 = $___________

FEBRUARY’S Merchant at Strathmore # of Seats _________ x $45 = $___________

4. SUPPORT THE FOLGER CONSORT Complement your subscription with a membership and help make Folger Consort programming possible! Members enjoy discounts, exclusive programs, and behind-the-scenes events.

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9/24, 12/17, 4/8

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