Classical Battles: Amazing 18th Century Chamber Music

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Saturday, June 2nd, 2018
7:30 PM to 9:30 PM

Two of the most unusual and popular chamber works of the late 18th Century, when the Intimate Encounters series of “Early Chamber Music in a Sacred Space” winds up its third season on Saturday, June 2nd at 7:30 pm, in the unmatched acoustics of the Chapel of the New Jerusalem at Christ Church Cathedral.

Frantisek Kotzwara’s “The Battle of Prague” (c. 1785) is a vivid musical depiction of that memorable historical event, complete with the sounds of horses galloping, dragoons advancing, the cries of the wounded and the trumpets of victory. The overall effect is richly evocative, amazingly ear-catching and occasionally amusing.

Its sequel, “The Siege of Québec” (c. 1795) is a compilation of more of Kotzwara’s martial musical sound-painting, including cannonades, capitulations, a drinking song and a moving lament for the death of General Wolfe, all put together after Kotzwara’s death by 18th Century Canadian composer W.B. de Krift.

Both of these unique works will be played at this concert by a trio consisting of Paul Luchkow, violin, Paula Kiffner, cello, and Michael Jarvis, harpsichord, plus the Cathedral’s Director of Music, Donald Hunt, sitting in on percussion.

Michael Jarvis tracked down long-missing parts for some of this music, so this will be a historical reconstruction in more ways than one! Rounding out the program, the ensemble will perform trios by Johann Schobert and J.C. Bach.