La Cetra: Musical Masterpieces from the Italian Baroque

Recorder virtuoso Aldo Abreu will join Duo Maresienne (Carol Lewis, viola da gamba; Olav Chris Henriksen, theorbo and baroque guitar) in “La Cetra”, a program of 17th- and 18th-century instrumental music from Italy. The music will include works by Frescobaldi, Granata, Legrenzi, Pandolfi Mealli, Castrucci, Vitali, Zuccari and others. Admission is $20 general admission, $15 students, seniors and low income. Children are admitted free. Ample street parking is available. An informal reception at the Museum will follow the concert. For further information and reservations, call (617) 666-9810 or go to www.somervillemuseum.org.

A master musician and poet in Greek mythology, Orpheus was the inspiration for several collections of music published in Italy during the baroque period, and his instrument, the lyre (“La Cetra”) lent its name to some of the musical publications. Composers wrote music to be enjoyed both in church and at court, and their contributions included instrumental sonatas, canzonas, toccatas and dance music, full of color and liveliness. Over the one hundred year time span from Frescobaldi’s canzonas to Zuccari’s virtuoso solo for viola da gamba, Italian musicians explored the full potential of instruments like the recorder, viola da gamba, theorbo and baroque guitar. Come hear a toccata for guitar by Granata, as well as recorder sonatas by Legrenzi, Castrucci, and Pandolfi Mealli, and a theorbo sonata by Brescianello. The concert will conclude with Vitali’s spectacular Chaconne, a true tour de force which is not to be missed.

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