In honor of the 250th anniversary of Georg Philip Telemann’s death, the College of Music presents a concert by Harmonious Blacksmith. The music ensemble specializes in Baroque music and will perform Thursday, Sept. 21 at 7:30 p.m. in MSU Auditorium’s Fairchild Theatre.
As part of the Taylor Johnston Early Music Series, the concert will include two quartets by Telemann, plus works by his contemporary, J.S. Bach, and his son, C.P.E. Bach.
Founded in 2006, Harmonious Blacksmith is named after the popular final movement of George Frideric Handel’s Suite No. 5, Air and Variations. The ensemble, which has been acclaimed for their “superb improvisations,” “dazzling virtuosity,” and “incredible accord,” consists of four members: Joe Gaucho, harpsichord; Jaap ter Linden, viola da gamba; Aaron Berofsky, violin, and Kathie Stewart, baroque flute.
Jaap ter Linden is considered one of the 20th century’s first early music specialists. He is the co-founder of one of the oldest Baroque ensembles, Musica da Camera, and founded and continues to direct the Mozart Akademie. He is the principal cellist of Musica Antiqua Köln, the English Concert and the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and is a regular guest soloist and conductor of many ensembles around the world.
Gaucho and Berofsky, faculty members of the University of Michigan, have toured throughout the United States and gained wide recognition as soloists and chamber musicians. Stewart is a founding member of Apollo’s Fire: The Cleveland Baroque Orchestra and serves as a faculty member at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Bios for all the members can be found here.
“We are so fortunate to have this outstanding ensemble share its exciting music-making with our music community,” says David Rayl, director of choral programs.
“These four superb early music performers are known nationally and internationally. To present them in concert on the Fairchild stage in thrilling, historically informed performances of this great Baroque repertoire will be a treat for our students and audiences.”
This concert is part of the Taylor Johnston Early Music Series and is sponsored by Dr. Robert W. Uphaus and Dr. Lois M. Rosen.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors (age 60 and older), and free for students with ID and anyone under 18. Tickets can be purchased online, at the College of Music box office, by calling (517) 353-5340 or at the door.
More information can be found here.
