On Sunday, October 22 at 11 am, the Christ Church String Quartet will be joined by bass player Christopher Hofer and local flautist Sally Montgomery. One of two resident ensembles, the other being the Christ Church Brass, the quartet is a flexible ensemble that occasionally expands to include a variety of chamber ensemble configurations. Also included in Sunday’s appearance will be Dale Krider on the continuo part. The ensemble will be directed by music director Wes Lockfaw.
The repertoire for Sunday will begin with a prelude starting at 10:50 am. The first selection will be the four-movement Chamber Suite in D by George Frideric Handel. Following the baroque sonata da chiesa form, meaning church sonata, the work was transcribed by Samuel Applebaum from the original Violin Sonata, Op. 1, No. 15. The first movement Adagio is through-composed, a very common feature in many baroque compositions. That is, the movement has a continual generation of thematic ideas. The second and fourth movements, faster in tempo, are in sonata-allegro form which evolved from the binary dance form. Movement three, like the first, is a slower Andante movement. Following the suite, the chamber ensemble will perform a 2010 composition by German composer, Joachim Johow. The piece which prominently features the flute opens with the flute on a simple but elegant theme accompanied by string orchestra and harpsichord. Before proceeding to the second section of the work, the opening section repeats but with a much more complex and fluid flute part. Like the opening section, the second section of the piece ensues with the flute playing a part that resembles the mood of the opening section, then following by a more improvisatory repeat. The piece concludes by recapitulating the opening section.
During the service, the chamber ensemble will join the Christ Church Choir in a rendition of “O God Beyond All Praising” derived from the tune THAXTED. A very familiar piece, the tune originated from Gustav Holst’s 1918 composition, The Planets. At the communion, the string orchestra will render J. S. Bach’s beloved “Sheep May Safely Graze” followed by a hymn based on the lovely chorale “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” also by Bach. Concluding the musical feast, Dale Krider will perform a Toccata by French composer and organist Théodore Dubois.
The public is cordially invited to attend Sunday’s presentation of music. For more information contact 410-822-2677. Christ Church is located at 111 S. Harrison Street in downtown Easton.
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