Event

In an English Garden

As perfectly crafted tonal illusions, Seventeenth Century viol fantasies are a curious and wild ride. Like an ant running over a patchwork quilt toward unknowable destinations, this quixotic form passes deftly through improvisatory moods and textures, by turns entertaining, distracting, and compelling. Employing newly developed compositional techniques to engage human emotions, fantasies had the power induce panic or inspire haunting trepidations in the listener. Even jolly passages are tinged with bittersweet, like in so much of English music.

Like guitars, viols have six strings tuned in perfect fourths and major thirds, but are bowed expressively like violins and cellos. For our program, Wildcat Viols celebrate their their first album with a complete performance of the Fantazias by Henry Purcell, complete viol sonatas of Giovanni Legrenzi, and selections from Matthew Lockes Magnifick Consort of Four Parts.

Gather Ye Rosebuds while Ye May!