Notes – October 4, 2017

NOT BY PERGOLESI (OR STRAVINSKY)

A concerto armonico by Unico Willem Graaf van Wassenaer(1692-1766) will be featured in the first EM/NY concert. A nobleman and very busy diplomat, van Wassenaer still found time to compose six such string orchestra works.

Published anonymously in 1740, they were later misattributed to Pergolesi. The posthumous popularity of this Italian master, who died at 26 in 1736, encouraged unscrupulous copyists and publishers to assign his name to works he never composed. Some of these, including part of one of theConcerti armonici, were incorporated by Stravinsky into his 1920 ballet Pulcinella.

Only in 1980 was the truth discovered: In the library of the van Wassenaer family castle, the original scores were found with a foreword by Unico Willem himself. It was considered unseemly for an aristocrat to be associated with such an un-aristocratic enterprise, so the composer consented to their publication only if his name was omitted.

The Pergolesi name afforded these works greater exposure than they otherwise would have received over two centuries, but they have lost none of their charm in the decades since their true composer was identified.

Special Non-Subscription Event

On Tuesday, October 17, as part of the 2017 New York Early Music Celebration, Early Music Foundation will present a special concert featuring transverse flutists Barthold Kuijken andImmanuel Davis (both also appearing on the October 22 EM/NY program).

“The Royal Flutes: Music from the Court of Louis XIV” will offer 18th-century French transverse flute duets and trio-sonatas by Couperin, Hotteterre,Marais, Clérambault and more. Messrs. Kuijken and Davis will be joined by viola da gamba player Arnie Tanimoto and harpsichordist Donald Livingston.

More information can be found at:

EarlyMusicNY.org

General Admission: $40; Students $20at the door.

Early Music New York season subscribers and single-ticket buyers can purchase tickets to this concert at a 25% discount. Call 212-280-0330 for details.

Information about other NYEMC 2017 events can be found at:

NYEMC.org

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BURGUNDIAN CHRISTMAS
Renaissance in the Low Countries

Saturday, December 9^th at 7:30 pm

First Church of Christ,  Scientist
Central Park West at 68^th Street

with continuing performances at

Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine

1047 Amsterdam Avenue at 112^th Street

Sunday, December 10^th at 2:00 pm

Sunday, December 17^th at 2:00 pm

Monday, December 25^th at 2:00 pm†

Monday, December 25^th at 5:00 pm
Continuing the fall focus on Flanders & Holland,Burgundian Christmaspresents sacred and secular Renaissance holiday motets and carols for voices and instruments. EM/NY’s concerts in the intimate and ambient St. James Chapel, nestled within the world’s largest gothic cathedral, always play to full houses, so order early!

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