Programs for the 2009-2010 Season
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“Profile of a Wandering Bohemian: Music Surrounding Jan Ladislav Dussek”
- 2-4 musicians: combinations of voice, classical flute, cello, fortepiano
- 2010 is the 250th anniversary of the birth of Czech composer Jan Ladislav Dussek (1760–1812)
- music by Dussek, Kozeluch, and Fiala
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This classical-era composer crosses those stylistic borders preceding the Romantic era by at least two decades. His emotional, colorful music reflects his eventful life, full of journeys, adventures and love. “Glamour” touring pianists, virtuosi, hinting at the future profile of Franz Liszt – these images are what we experience listening to Dussek’s music, especially fortepiano solo sonatas. This program also includes pieces by Dussek’s contemporaries: Kozeluch, another Czech composer approaching the direction of musical romanticism; and Fiala, a good friend of the Mozart family, whose music contrasts with Dussek by its classical elegance.
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“Not my Brother’s Keeper: Variety in the Music of the Sons of JS Bach”
- 3 musicians: classical flute, cello, fortepiano
- 2010 is the 300th anniversary of the birth Wilhelm Friedemann Bach (1710–1784)
- music by Wilhelm Friedemann, Carl Philip Emmanuel, and Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach
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In 2010, Ensemble Eloquentia celebrates the 300th anniversary of the birth of Wilhelm Friedemann Bach with a special birthday program – and two of his brothers have also been invited! The eccentric music of Wilhelm Friedemann is central to the program, complemented by very personalized musical gifts: surprising dynamics and harmonies so characteristic of Carl Philip Emmanuel, and sweet, gentle melodies by Johann Christoph Friedrich. Played on historical instruments, these compositions shine as the colorful sounds of the classical flute, cello, and fortepiano join to explore the range of emotions possible in the varied styles of JS Bach’s sons. The variety in this program also offers the special opportunity to hear the piano used in each of its late-18th century roles: basso continuo, obbligato, and solo.
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“Master and Pupil: Compositions by Haydn and his Student Beethoven”
- 3-4 musicians: combinations of classical flute, natural horn, cello, fortepiano
- 2009 is the 200th anniversary of the death Franz Joseph Haydn (1732–1809)
- music by Haydn and Beethoven
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Any teacher is guiding a student to be a colleague, and therefore, paradoxically, strong competition. Though Beethoven went to Vienna in 1792 specifically to study with Haydn, there are several mixed reports about their student-teacher relationship. Haydn appears to have handled this situation gracefully, whereas Beethoven was more distressed by the standards and success of his teacher. The pieces chosen for this program highlight these composers’ differences. In works for classical flute, cello, and piano, Haydn’s grace and wittiness contrast greatly with Beethoven’s storminess.
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“Duo”
- 2 musicians: classical flute and fortepiano
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This program is inspired by the international tours of traveling virtuosi at the turn of the 19th century, such as those of Carl Maria von Weber (piano) and Anton Fuerstenau (flute). A varied program for the 8-keyed classical flute and fortepiano, we perform compositions by these virtuosi and others who came before them: Beethoven, Mozart, and Dussek.
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“All About the Natural Horn”
- 3-5 musicians: combinations of voice, classical flute, natural horn, cello, fortepiano
- 2010 is the 250th anniversary of the birth of German composer Johann Rudolph Zumsteeg (1760-1802)
- music by Duvernoy, Schubert, Zumsteeg, and Beethoven
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In this program we invite you to enjoy the warm and varied sounds of natural horn. You will be treated to Beethoven’s famous Horn Sonata in F, and the touching “Auf dem Strom” by Schubert. We also introduce a lesser-known composer, Johann Rudolph Zumsteeg, whose 250th birth anniversary falls in 2010. Zumsteeg’s ballades had a great influence on the young Franz Schubert who copied and imitated them as musical exercises. Another attraction in this program is the unique instrument combination of horn, flute and fortepiano, presented in a trio by Frédéric Nicolas Duvernoy, the internationally-famous principal horn player of the Opéra in Paris at the turn of the 19th century.