In an English Garden (Wildcat Viols)

Featuring the Wildcat Viols:
Joanna Blendulf, Julie Jeffrey, Annalisa Pappano and Elisabeth Reed;
Performing Fantasies, Suites & Sonatas for viol quartet by Purcell, Locke & Legrenzi.

As perfectly crafted tonal illusions, Seventeenth Century viol fantasiesare 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 Locke’s ‘Magnifick Consort of Four Parts.’ Gather Ye Rosebuds while Ye May!

Pre-concert talks begin 45 minutes before Baroque Festival concerts and are free with concert admission.