St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church
Quicksilver: The Early Moderns
Works by: Castello, Fontana, Merula, Marini, & more
Artists: Quicksilver Baroque Ensemble
Quicksilver Baroque Ensemble, known for their “impeccable, soulful playing” (The New York Times) return to Vancouver to present a programme exploring the musical revolutions of the Early Modern period. This “modern” music, in contrast to the smooth polyphony of the Renaissance, is exemplified in extravagant and sumptuous sonatas from Italy and Germany.
Generously sponsored by Melody Mason & Joseph Gilling.
Johann Heinrich Schmeltzer (c. 1623–1680)
Sonata 7 à 5 from Sacro–profanus concentus musicus (1662)
Giovanni Legrenzi (1626–1678)
Sonata terza à 2 from La cetra, sonate a 2–4, Libro Terzo Op. 10 (1673)
Johann Caspar Kerll (1627–1693)
Sonata à tre in G minor, from the Düben Collection, Uppsala
Antonio Bertali (1605–1669)
Sonata à 3 in A minor, from the Düben Collection, Uppsala
Johann Heinrich Schmeltzer (c. 1623–1680)
Sonata à 4 “La Carolietta,” from the Kroměříž Library, 1669
Interval
Johann Rosenmüller (1617–1684)
Sonata X à 5 from Sonate à 2, 3, 4, e 5 (Nuremberg, 1682)
Johann Caspar Kerll (1627–1693)
Passacaglia variata from Toccate, Canzoni, et altre Sonate (1675)
Johann Joseph Fux (1644–1704)
Sonata à 4 in g minor, from the Kroměříž Library, 1717
Johann Kaspar Kerll (1627–1693)
Sonata à 2 in F major, from the Rost MS (Baden-Baden, c.1660)
Romanus Weichlein (1650–1706)
Sonata III from Encaenia musices, Op.1 (Innsbruck, 1695)
Click here to read the programme notes.
Quicksilver
“Revered like rock stars within the early music scene” (New York Times), Quicksilver brings together today’s top North American historically-informed performers. Described as “drop-dead gorgeous with a wonderful interplay of timbres” (Early Music America) and praised as “irresistible” (Fanfare Magazine), Quicksilver vibrantly explores the rich chamber music repertoire from the early modern period to the High Baroque.
The ensemble has been featured at numerous music series and prestigious festivals, receiving critical acclaim, standing ovations and repeat invitations. Recent and upcoming appearances include Carnegie Hall, Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center, The Library of Congress, Buffalo Chamber Music Society, CU Presents Artist Series (Colorado), Toronto Consort Series, the Miller Theatre at Columbia University, Da Camera Society (Los Angeles), San Diego Early Music Society, Boston Early Music Festival, Vancouver Early Music Festival, Berkeley Festival and Exhibition, Early Music Now (Milwaukee), Shriver Hall Concert Series, Chamber Music Tulsa, Indianapolis Early Music Festival, San Francisco Early Music Society, Miami Bach Society, Madison Early Music Festival, Dumbarton Oaks Concert Series (Washington, DC), Houston Early Music, Early Music Hawaii and Music Before 1800 (NYC). Quicksilver’s debut recording, Stile Moderno was described as “Breakthrough of the Year . . . breathtaking” (Huffington Post) and “convincing . . . terrific” (Early Music-Oxford Journal).
Quicksilver’s latest recording, Fantasticus has been named one of The New Yorker’s Ten Notable Recordings of 2014, praised as “Fantasticus, indeed” (Gramophone) and a “recommended purchase” (Osterreichische Musikzeitschrift/Austrian Music Journal). Quicksilver’s forthcoming recording, The (very) First Viennese School, will be released in the 2021-22 season.
