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Festive Music from the German Kingdoms

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WCSE 600x420In early music, nothing says December quite like German music played on brass instruments. Even better is German music played on historic brass! The Washington Cornett and Sackbutt Ensemble has been performing music from the heyday of the cornett and sackbut (1580–1650) since 1997, and in February 2022, the ensemble will celebrate 25 years performing all over the USA. It is fitting that WCSE’s anniversary year revisits its German Kingdoms program from its inaugural concert, this time with a holiday theme. With the ensemble will be soprano Rebecca Kellerman from New York City who will demonstrate the unique and wholly historical blend between voice and early brass. WCSE also performs as a recorder consort, and utilizes percussion, and other lively combinations. The program includes music of Hassler, Scheidt, Schütz, Praetorius, Stoltzer, Speer, and Senfl. 

Rebecca Kellerman ~ guest soprano soloist 
Alexander Bonus and Patrick O’Connell ~ cornetto 
Barry Bocaner ~ alto & tenor sackbut 
Michael Holmes ~ tenor sackbut 
David Searle ~ bass sackbut 
Bozena Jedrzejczak-Brown ~ continuo

Considered one of the premiere ensembles of its kind in North America, the Washington Cornett and Sackbutt Ensemble (WCSE), directed by Michael Holmes, consists of historic brass instrument specialists based in Washington D.C. Assemblages of ‘cornetts’ (curved hybrid brass/woodwind instruments) and ‘sackbuts’ (early trombones; spelled numerous ways) comprised what was the standard brass ensemble of the late Renaissance and early Baroque eras of Western music.

Artist website

1:15 – 2:00 pm
All concerts are free; no tickets or reservations are necessary.

In person at The Church of the Transfiguration, 1 E 29th St, New York City

Live Streaming: You can watch on your computer in any of two places by clicking on the name you wish: our website or YouTube.

 

GEMS is a non-profit corporation that supports and promotes the artists and organizations in New York devoted to early music — playing repertoire from the Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, and early Classical periods.