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H O U S T O N E A R L Y M U S I C
Featuring chant to chamber music -- the best of the past
http://tayara.com/earlymusic
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Our Next Concert
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LA BELLA VITA - DUO FAVOLOSO
8:00 P.M., FEBRUARY 28, 2001
THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, HOUSTON

A sparkling evening of art, wine, and the music of 19th century Italy – the
good life indeed!
Early Conversations Lecture, Tour, and Wine Tasting - Italian Pleasures -
6:30 p.m., MFAH


Houston Early Music, in association with Guitar Houston and the Museum of
Fine Arts, is pleased to present a sparkling evening of music, art and
wine—the good life indeed! Sensual guitar serenades from the 19th century,
performed at an intimate concert with a tour of Italian art and a tasting of
Italian wines celebrate La Bella Vita. The duo of Pasquale Rucco and Douglas
James specializes in performance of the guitar literature of the early 19th
century on authentic instruments of the period. The two met and became
friends at guitar festivals in northern Italy during the early 1990s. Since
that time they have performed together in the United States and Italy,
charming audiences with their interpretations of music from the first true
"golden age" of the guitar.

This concert features some of the most famous of the early Romantic guitar
duo repertoire. Gragnani was a protégé of the more famous Ferdinando
Carulli, another Italian who made his career in Paris. The Frenchman
François de Fossa composed nine guitar duos based on the works of Joseph
Haydn, of which only one copy of a printed edition is known to survive
today. These rarely heard arrangements are exceptional both in their musical
quality and suitability for the instruments, retaining all of the classical
charm of Haydn while exploiting the textures and timbres of the 19th century
guitar. Better known are the Giuliani arrangements of Rossini operatic
overtures. The great Italian guitar virtuoso made these arrangements late in
his life, probably for performance with his daughter Emilia, herself a
guitarist and composer. Also featured will be the first performance of a
newly discovered Rondeau pour deux guitarres by Antoine Baron de Barcó, a
Viennese guitarist/composer who was also an Austrian cavalry officer. These
works are all on the duo's first CD, which was just released last summer.

The Italian guitarist Pasquale Rucco is the winner of several European
guitar competitions, including the 1989 Arturo Toscannini Solo Guitar
Competition for the performance of 19th century music. He has performed
regularly in Europe and the United States, both as a soloist and chamber
musician. Mr. Rucco is also the founding director of A.C.I.F., a consortium
of music academies operating in the greater Naples region. The American
guitarist Douglas James has received numerous prizes and awards, including
two National Endowment for the Arts Solo Recitalist Fellowships. He performs
frequently throughout the United States and in Europe and has been featured
on major classical radio broadcasts including NPR’s Performance Today. Mr.
James is Director of Guitar Studies and Appalachian Guitar Fest at
Appalachian State University.

The performers are using 19th century guitars for this performance—Mr. James
’ guitar is from the Parisian workshop of Jacques Derazey, circa 1830-36 and
Mr. Rucco’s guitar is by anonymous French luthier, circa 1810.

*******

Dr. James Clifton, Curator of Renaissance Art at the Museum of Fine Arts,
Houston, will present an Early Conversations lecture entitled Italian
Pleasures: A Walking Tour of Italian Paintings from the MFA at 6:30 p.m.
Sample the pleasures of Italian art and wine through this tour of the art of
Italy from the permanent collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
culminating in a tasting of Italian wines from the Houston Wine Merchant.

Tickets are $25 general admission, $20 for seniors and students, and may be
purchased at the door or by calling 713.432.1744. There will be no charge
for children 12 years and under.


For more about the program, see
http://www.tayara.com/earlymusic/2001/duo1.htm

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For information or Tickets, call 713-432-1744
Single tickets: $25 standard, $20 seniors/students
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Our web site http://tayara.com/earlymusic describes the season's offerings
and is a timely source for detailed information on concerts and events
throughout the year. If you would like to receive our season program printed
brochure, please email or call us. Season subscriptions (seven concerts) are
$140 standard, $100 seniors/students. A three-concert mini-pass is available
for $60/$50.


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UPCOMING EVENTS
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DON’T MISS A SINGLE NOTE OF THE UPCOMING PERFORMANCES.


MISSA MEXICANA - THE HARP CONSORT WITH STEVEN PLAYER, DANCER - 8:00 P.M.,
APRIL 5, 2002, ST. ANNE CATHOLIC CHURCH
The liturgical music of colonial Mexico is brought to life in a brilliant
array of song, dance and instrumental harmonies.
Early Conversations Lecture - Splendors of Vice-Regal Mexico - 8:00 p.m.,
St. Anne


EARLY ENCOUNTERS WITH MUSIC - MARAVILLA DE MEXICO - FREE FAMILY CONCERTS -
1:30 P.M. AND 3:30 P.M., APRIL 6, 2002, THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, HOUSTON
Introduce your family to melodic jewels of colonial Mexico at twenty-minute
concerts (free with admission to the Museum) at the Museum of Fine Arts,
Houston.


THE TITANS SPEAK

*** please note *** -- due to conditions beyond our control, the performance
of the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra has been rescheduled for a different
location and date. We sincerely regret any inconvenience that this change
causes our patrons.

Freiburg Baroque Orchestra with Emma Kirkby
8:00 p.m., Friday, April 26, 2002
St. Anne Catholic Church, 2140 Westheimer

In cooperation with The American Bach Society and Moores School of Music

Two great titans of music—Bach and Handel—are brought to vivid life by
electrifying performances by two of the international stars of the early
music arena: the phenomenal Freiburg Baroque Orchestra and the incomparable
Emma Kirkby. We’ve brought them back for you because of overwhelming demand.
Don’t miss this stellar evening!

Early Conversations Lecture - A Baroque Detective Tale - 7:00 p.m.


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HoustonEarlyMusicTalk Discussion Group
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Discuss, feedback, and interact with other early music patrons.

HoustonEarlyMusicTalk is the Internet discussion group for patrons of
Houston Early Music. All persons interested in early music in Houston are
welcome to join and participate. Members of this group may engage in email
and web discussion with the Houston Early Music board, staff, and
volunteers, or share information among HEM patrons. Patrons are welcome to
provide feedback on concerts or any other comments on Houston Early Music's
activities. You are also welcome to exchange information relating to the
early music community in Houston with other patrons. For example, persons
looking to buy/sell musical instruments, seeking music instructors, or
offering news of early music events are welcome to share information here.

You may join by sending a blank email message to
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
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If you would like to help bring the joy of early music to Houston, and to
get to know the folks behind the scenes (we're a bunch of totally fabulous
guys), please call our phone line 713-432-1744 or email us at
earlymusic@.... Our Volunteer Coordinator will contact you to find
ways you can get involved. It takes more than excellent musicians to make
the music: it won't happen without the invaluable effort of ushers, envelope
stuffers, concert assistants, ticket takers, reception hosts ... and many
more people just like you. If you love the music and have some time to give,
please let us know.


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ABOUT HOUSTON EARLY MUSIC
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Houston Early Music is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to further
the appreciation and performance of early music of the European traditions
and other world cultures, presenting internationally famous musicians
playing original instruments in historically-informed performances. In
addition we reach out to new and diverse audiences through an educational
outreach program on the elementary, secondary, college, and community
levels.

You may reach us at

Houston Early Music
P.O. Box 271193
Houston TX 77277-1193
Phone 713-432-1744
email earlymusic@...
web http://tayara.com/earlymusic/


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