Prepare to be transported back to the 17th century with La Folia, a Baroque string ensemble from Edmonton, as the musicians get ready for their fourth annual show at the St. Mary & St. George Anglican Church, May 29.
“It’s always so much fun to play in Jasper,” said the ensemble’s artistic director Josephine van Lier. “The audience is unbelievably appreciative and knowledgeable which is always wonderful to play for.”
Upon stepping through the church’s doors, show attendees will be greeted by the whimsical sounds of violins, cellos and harpsichords all melting together to create the layered melodies reminiscent of the Renaissance, said van Lier.
“You really get drawn in the Baroque era– the wonderful Anglican church helps to create that intimacy that we strive to have with our show,” van Lier said. “The audience gets to really be a part of the music which helps bring you back in time.”
Along with their usual repertoire, the 11-member ensemble is mixing things up this year by adding a Baroque oboe player to one of their pieces.
“The Baroque oboe by no means sounds like the modern oboe, so it will provide an unexpected sound for the crowd,” van Lier said.
Another new feature for the upcoming gig is the addition of a song that uses four viola da gambas–a fretted stringed instrument which resembles a cello. Van Lier said she is the only professional viola da gamba player in Alberta.
“You don’t really see the gambas around anymore, but there is a wealth of music to go with that instrument,” van Lier said.
The rest of the concert will include pieces composed by the likes of Johann Sebastian Bach, Henry Purcell and Antonio Vivaldi.
Part of La Folia’s unique sound can be attributed to its use of gut strings, also known as catgut strings, which are made from the walls of sheep or goat intestines and are typically used for classical or Baroque string instruments.
“They create a really warm sound, but it's very different from what you’d normally hear,” van Lier said.
However, don’t give the strings all the credit.
Van Lier said for each show the ensemble puts in many hours of preparation– they've practiced for more than two hours every Tuesday for the past few months.
“Sometimes we’ll spend half an hour focusing on a half minute part of a song,” she said. “We really work in great detail so we’re very prepared for the concert.”
The show will be held at St. Mary & St. George Anglican Church, May 29. The concert will begin at 2 p.m. and tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door.
Kayla Byrne [email protected]
