Please feel free to call us with any question:
(608) 238-6092.
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On April 10 and 24, the Madison Bach
Musicians will present two performances of Bach’s Brandenburg
Concertos Nos. 4, 5, and 6. Composed around 1720, during Bach's
five-year tenure at the court of Cöthen (c. 1718-22), these
concertos are a seamless fusion of musical sophistication and
toe-tapping fun. In the Allegro movements elegant figuration (miraculously
patterned but somehow never repetitive!) is consistently underpinned
by a rhythmic drive; and the slow movements contain some of Bach's
most tender musical poetry. Each concerto is set for a unique
combination of instruments, showcasing the astonishing virtuosity
and tonal variety of high-baroque instrumental sound. Concerto
# 4 in G major features two recorders, solo violin, and string
band. Concerto #6 features a variety of stringed instruments all
from the lower end of the pitch spectrum--two violas, two gambas,
cello, and continuo (harpsichord and bass). Concerto #5 in D major
features a string band plus solo violin, baroque flute, and a
harpsichord part that in the first movement dramatically veers
off into a lengthy and dazzling runaway cadenza. Bach himself
would certainly have been the soloist here, and we do know that
in 1719, at the behest of the Cöthen court, Bach traveled
from Cöthen to Berlin to purchase a state-of-the-art double-manual
harpsichord from the maker Michael Mietke. In the upcoming MBM
April performances of Concerto #5, I will play a replica of this
Mietke harpsichord completed just this year by Madison harpsichord
builder Norman Sheppard.
The Madison Bach Musicians will present
the Brandenburg Concertos with a chamber orchestra of seventeen
players. The ensemble features baroque violins, baroque violas,
baroque cello, double bass, flauto traverso (baroque flute), two
recorders, and two viola da gambas. MBM seeks your financial support
in defraying the many costs involved in presenting these unparalleled
masterworks. Expenses for the project will total approximately
$25,000 and anticipated revenue from ticket sales will cover not
quite half of this. Grants and sales of advertising space in our
program make up for part of our budget, but corporate and individual
support is an essential part of bringing this great music to our
community. We are reaching out to you, our patrons, to underwrite
individual aspects of the project such as hall rental fees, program
printing, orchestral parts, and honoraria and travel for guest
artists. Your support is essential in presenting these concerts.
We really can't do it without you!
If you would like to underwrite any
of these expenses with a tax-deductible contribution, your gift
will be acknowledged in a special section of the Brandenburg Concertos
printed program.
*By way of thanks to any patron wishing to partially underwrite
honoraria for Brandenburg Concerto soloists—a $3500 donation—Madison
Bach Musicians is offering a chamber music performance in your
home or other location for an evening entertainment. This event
can be scheduled for any time between May 1 and October 1 of 2010.
* Donors giving $1800—sponsoring, in part, the principal
string players—will receive a house-concert performance
played on a double-manual harpsichord by MBM artistic director
Trevor Stephenson.
* Donors giving $500 or more will be invited to a thank you evening
of music and refreshments at the home of artistic director Trevor
Stephenson.
Monetary donations are always appreciated,
but the gift of your time is welcome as well. MBM needs your help
sending out mailing, putting up posters, organizing and bringing
treats to receptions, hosting guest artists, and more. If you'd
like to help, please call or send us an email.
Donation checks should be made out
to Madison Bach Musicians and mailed to the address listed above.
If you would like your donation to go to a specific area, please
indicate this on your check.
Many thanks for your support. I hope
to hear from you soon.
Sincerely yours,
Trevor Stephenson
Artistic Director, Madison Bach Musicians
