Bach's Lunch: Recital of Song

Description

The recital - performed by - Harel Gietheim, Abigail Charbeneau, and Jan Fuller -- is based around “song” with the three more lyrical choices highlighting the different characteristics of despair, dream, and loss. The time period of these three choices spans the 19th century-halfway into the 20th century exploring the harmonic changes in compositional writing through the romantic, impressionist, and more contemporary eras. Bach’s 5th suite in the key of C minor, brings a turn to the baroque era, 1600-1750, and explores dance elements while continuing the darker tone of the program. Bach uses multiple voices in the writing that spreads through the range of the cello, while other movements have the absence of chords and use simpler rhythm creating a more mournful and desolate movement. It’s the only cello suite using alternate tuning: having the A string tuned to the note G called scordatura. Combined with elements of lyricism and rhythmic motives, the tuning and message of this suite continues the atmosphere and story of the recital, to convey a darker tone.

Bach’s Lunches are free and open to the public. They are made possible in part through the generosity of the Walker Fund.