Universal Essences of a Tonality - First Episode: B Minor - Works for Flute & Harpsichord

I’m excited to host my 6th Groupmuse concert at 7:30 on Friday, April 12th featuring flutist Taya König-Tarasevich and harpsichordist Elliot Figg performing works by Baroque composers in the key of B Minor. Taya is currently a student in and Elliot is a graduate of the Historical Performance Program at Juilliard, but this won’t be your usual concert of early music for flute & harpsichord.

Anyone who has played a keyboard instrument that was not tuned to the ubiquitous equal temperament used on modern pianos has slipped through a door into another aural world in which a key can have an amazing range of character depending upon the temperament used. Baroque composers, players & audiences valued the unique characteristics of different temperaments to reveal great beauty and passion in music—qualities they cherished in all the arts and achieved through similar devices in the visual and language arts. Taya & Elliot have prepared a program reminiscent of earlier times when, in contrast to a public concert performed by specialists before an audience, an evening of musical entertainment was an intimate gathering to enjoy and explore—in this case, music in B Minor from a different aural, visual & verbal world.

PROGRAM:
George Frederic Handel (1685-1759): B minor Sonata HWV 376b
Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767): B minor Sonata TWV 41:h4
Michel Blavet (1700-1768): B minor Sonata Op.3 No.2
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750): B minor Sonata BWV 1030

Snacks and beverages will be provided during an intermission, and you are welcome to bring snacks/beverages to share.

FROM THE ARTISTS: Taya & Elliot present an experimental program to revive the consciousness of the universality of all art forms. Theoretical physics, poetry, Blavet and visual art...do they have anything in common? We invite you to pass through the doors of the trivium and quadrivium into the temple of B minor. Including works of J.S. Bach, G.Ph. Telemann, M. Blavet, G.F. Handel, as well as remarks from theoretical physicist Dr. Elio König-Tarasevich, we will all together explore the facets of B minor-ness in both musical and extra-musical senses. Just as a diamond, the tonality B minor refracts an infinite variety of colors as one views it from different angles. Come and enjoy the view!

TAYA KONIG-TARASEVICH: Siberian flutist Taya König-Tarasevich enjoys an international career as soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral performer on baroque, classical, and modern flutes. While Taya is fluent in English, German, Italian and Russian she believes that music speaks a language of its own. A language that reaches deep within the listener touching desires and awakening delights while opening our ears and the eyes of our soul to the depths of beauty. As an artist and global citizen, Taya is committed to spread unity and peace, love and support, healing and hope through her music by crossing the boundaries of language, race, religion, and political geography. She enjoys performing across different social and historical epochs, connecting art forms, and integrating diverse styles of playing. In addition to performing and teaching, she is a quadrilingual poet, a committed wildlife conservationist, a compassionate women’s rights activist, and a regular practitioner of yoga and meditation. Taya’s greatest desire is to bring light through music into the world.

ELLIOT FIGG: Eliot is a keyboardist, conductor and composer from Dallas, Texas. He is a graduate of the Historical Performance Program at The Juilliard School where he studied harpsichord with Kenneth Weiss. He has also studied with Arthur Haas at the Yale School of Music. Elliot is an active member of several New York-based early music and contemporary ensembles, including ACRONYM, Ruckus, New York Baroque Incorporated, and New Vintage Baroque. Recent engagements include: Conductor and harpsichordist for Piramo e Tisbe and L'Amant Anonyme, both with Little Opera Theatre of New York; Assistant conductor and harpsichordist for Il Farnace and for Cavalli's Veremonda, both with Spoleto Festival USA; assistant conductor and harpsichordist for Dido and Aeneas with L.A. Opera. In June Elliot will conduct from the harpsichord The Angel's Share production of Dido and Aeneas in the catacombs of Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn.

What's the music?

Elliot Figg

Taya König-Tarasevich

Madeleine Bouïssou

Attendees

Dennis

+1

Laurilyn J.

Dee

David S.

Ulkar A. Groupmuse Superhost

+1

Catherine A.

Jodi Y.

+1

Ri P.

Svetoslav Z.

+1

Sarai B.

Andrea D.

David P.

+1

Ann A.

Emily C.

+1

Joseph J L.

Laura G.

Marisa

Premi C.