News:

In the Indianapolis Star on October 11, 2011, Jay Harvey wrote the following article about Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra:

Bach program a showcase for German cantatas

The Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra and eight first-rate singers helped bring "Bach Project VI" to a successful conclusion Monday night at the University of Indianapolis.

The theme of light, particularly from stars of symbolic value to Christians, unified the program in one respect. In another, it was a mini-survey of the cantata output of three men holding the Leipzig office of "Thomaskantor" in the 17th and 18th centuries.

The coveted position required the production of German cantatas for performance in two of the city's churches, in addition to other demanding administrative and educational duties.

Not surprisingly, J.S. Bach came off better than his predecessors, but the works of Johann Schelle and Johann Kuhnau had their points of interest, too. John Abberger was guest conductor of a program that had enjoyed several earlier presentations in the past few days, so the performances were well-honed, both instrumentally and vocally.

After a curtain-raiser (Pachelbel's Canon in D and its less well-known companion, a Gigue in the same catchy spirit) came "God, Send Your Light" by Schelle (1648-1701). Its staid structure -- a chorus with solos bookending a series of linked verses, each featuring a different soloist -- seemed appropriate for strophic testimony to the value of God's light to the devout.

The German cantata, born of such a focus on a clearly presented text, took on elaboration in the course of the 17th century, with Italian borrowings of the recitative (narrative or lyrical declamation) and the aria da capo lending greater variety. "How Brightly Shines the Morning Star" could be compared in successive settings by Kuhnau (1660-1722) and Bach (1685-1750).

"Natural" (valveless) horns join the strings-and-continuo ensemble in both, to which Bach adds the colorful woodland voice of the oboe da caccia. The Kuhnau work spotlighted the gifts of tenor Daniel Blosser, who projected well and displayed a secure enough technique to allow the piece's expressive breadth to shine. None of the soloists was in the least inadequate, and they worked together well as a chorus.

After intermission, Martinlow Spaulding, executive director of IndyBaroque Music (which runs IBO), got extensive assistance offering a tribute to Jo Ann Domb, retired professor and voice teacher at the University of Indianapolis. She not only chaired the school's music department for 23 years, but also, after arranging a long-term residency for the IBO, chaired IndyBaroque's board until recently.

Press Release:

IndyBaroque Music Celebrates International Artistry with 23rd Season

As the theme for its 2011-12 concert season, IndyBaroque Music, Inc., celebrates the international artists among its members: “International Artistry – Destination Central Indiana.”

Ensemble Voltaire and the Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra, which are organized under the administrative umbrella of IndyBaroque Music, Inc., both enjoy international elements.

Barthold Kuijken, Artistic Director of the IBO, ventures to Indianapolis each season from Belgium to lead what he calls “my American orchestra.” Kuijken, who serves on the faculties of the Royal Conservatories of Brussels and The Hague, has long been a leading European figure in the field of early music performance on period instruments.

John Abberger, although a Floridian by birth, has for many years been the principal oboist of Canada’s Toronto-based Baroque orchestra, the world renowned Tafelmusik. He visits Indianapolis from Ontario in his capacities as both oboist of Ensemble Voltaire and creator/conductor of the IBO’s annual “Bach Project.”

A number of players and singers who have participated in IBO and Voltaire concerts over the years have either been citizens of other countries or Americans who have lived abroad.

For instance, several Ensemble Voltaire musicians have studied and worked abroad: Canadian flutist Barbara Kallaur (two years in The Netherlands), cellist Christine Kyprianides (19 years in Germany), and violinist Christopher Verrette (in Toronto since 1995).

** In mid winter, Barthold Kuijken returns to Indianapolis both to conduct and solo with the Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra in a program called “International Artistry: Baroque and Classical Masterworks.” Four performances are scheduled for February 24 through 27, 2012.

Prior to the performances, the IBO holds its first-ever concerto competition, with the final round set for Monday, February 20. Students of the Indiana University Early Music Institute in Bloomington are competing for first place and a chance to perform with the IBO during its appearance in Bloomington.

Kuijken, although working frequently these days as a conductor, is considered to be the preëminent player of historical flutes in the world today. The featured work on the “Baroque and Classical Masterworks” program is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s popular Flute Concerto in D, K. 314, which Kuijken will play and conduct at the same time.

Another crowd-pleaser is on the program: the Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, in G, BWV 1048, by J. S. Bach. It is a concerto without orchestra, as each of the three violin parts, the three viola parts, and the three cello parts are solo lines. The only accompaniment is provided by the basso continuo section: Spray, this time playing violone, and Gerber at the harpsichord.

Rounding out the program are works by two other well known Baroque composers: Venice’s “Red Priest,” the colorful and prolific violinist/composer Antonio Vivaldi; and, up north in Hamburg, Germany, the best known proponent of the late-Baroque galant style, the even more prolific Georg Philipp Telemann.

The run of performances begins on Friday evening, February 24, at 8:00 pm, in Crawfordsville, Indiana. The IBO is presented as part of the Wabash College Concert Series, and the venue is the college’s Salter Concert Hall.

In the afternoon of the 24th, Kuijken and some members of the orchestra take on the role of teachers in a series of master classes for Wabash College music students.

The next afternoon, Saturday, February 25, at 4:00 pm, “Baroque and Classical Masterworks” goes to the stage of Auer Hall at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Added to this particular performance is the work chosen by the winner of the IBO Concerto Competition.

On Sun. February 26, the IBO returns to its usual time at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church: 4:00 pm.

The Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center at the University of Indianapolis is the site of the final presentation of “Baroque and Classical Masterworks”: 7:30 pm, Monday, February 27.

** As spring blooms in Indianapolis, Ensemble Voltaire scales the heights of Baroque chamber music and counterpoint by playing J. S. Bach’s magnificent Musical Offering, BWV 1079, a late-in-life work from 1747 based on a theme given to Bach by King Frederick the Great of Prussia.

Musical Offering combines deeply profound beauty with contrapuntal know-how as Bach, through a series of canons, fugues, ricercares, and a monumental trio sonata, reveals the various possibilities of the King’s tune. Kallaur, Edberg, Kyprianides, and Gerber constitute Ensemble Voltaire in this program entitled “J.S. Bach: Musical Offering.”

The first of three performances is in the Gothic nave of Trinity Episcopal Church: 7:30 pm, Friday, March 30.

The quartet takes the program on the road the next day, Saturday, March 31, to New Castle, Indiana, presented by the Art Association of Henry County at the Henry County Art Center, 218 S. 15th St. The performance begins at 7:00 pm.

The concluding performance of “Musical Offering” is on Sunday, April 1, at 2:00 pm, back in Indianapolis at The Historic Athenaeum, 401 E. Michigan Street.

** IndyBaroque Music, Inc., holds its annual fund raiser, “Baroque Bash,” in conjunction with its final concert of the season, an Ensemble Voltaire program of chamber music favorites.

The event is planned for Saturday, May 19, at Trinity Episcopal Church. The “Bash” begins with a wine reception and silent auction at 5:15 pm in the Lemler Garden, located between the church and its school, St. Richard’s.

The festivities move inside to the Fortune Room for an 18th-century-style dinner, with a bit of operatic entertainment provided by tenor Fr. Michael Magiera, Administrator of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Indianapolis.

The Ensemble Voltaire concert is presented at 7:30 pm in the church; tickets for the concert can purchased separately from the “Baroque Bash” tickets.

** Ensemble Voltaire’s concerts at Trinity Episcopal Church are presented in conjunction with Music at Trinity, while the Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra’s concerts at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church are jointly presented by St. Paul’s Music and its performances at the DeHaan Center of the University of Indianapolis are cosponsored by the University’s Music Department.

The IBO concert at Auer Hall, Indiana University, is a joint presentation of IndyBaroque Music, Inc., and the Early Music Institute of Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music.

Every Ensemble Voltaire and Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra concert is preceded by an informal chat with early-arrival audience members about the music, the musicians, and the instruments, 30 minutes before concert time. Also, we offer complementary receptions at all concerts.

IndyBaroque Music, Inc., is supported, in part, by the Arts Council of Indianapolis; the Indiana Arts Commission, a state agency; and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

Other support from the AllenWhitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation, a season sponsor of the IBO; the Christel DeHaan Family Foundation; the Penrod Society; M & I Bank; Brinkman Press; Piano Solutions of Carmel; and the Central Indiana Community Foundation (IBMI Endowment).

Ticket prices for 2011-12 are as follows: Adults $20, Seniors (age 62 and wiser) $15, our new ticket rate for our “Next Generation” (age 18 - 40) $10 and as always, Students - only $5.

To learn even more, visit www.indybaroquemusic.org / Tele: 317.808.BACH (2224)

Note: If you would like any logos or pictures of featured musicians, contact IBMI office.