The Grand Tour
“This is a delicious collection of pieces from the pens of Cavalieri, Trabaci, Corbetta, Frescobaldi, Castaldi, Kapsberger, Granata and Monteverdi, played on the arpa doppia (double harp) by Maxine Eilander and the Spanish baroque guitar by Stephen Stubbs. The blend of the two instruments is delightfully rich and always sounds just right for the repertoire, which conjures up the ancient airs and dances that inspired Respighi to write his famous suites...This charming, elegant music testifies to the magnificence of that era.The confidence and fluency exhibited by Eilander and Stubbs tops off the allurement.” - J Timmermann
The baroque harp has a special affinity for the baroque guitar and lute - together they can create a wide variety of texture, color and dynamics. For this reason they were especially valued in the 17th century in accompanying voices. We have spent a career working together, and when we play duo programs, we are distilling a lifetime of experience with the great song and opera repertoire of the baroque period.
In the baroque period (roughly1600-1750) aristocratic families in Northern Europe sent their sons and daughters on cultural enrichment tours (often called The Grand Tour), particularly to Italy, which, as the seat of the Roman Empire was seen as the apex of historical culture. It also happened to be the place of origin for most musical innovations of the 17th century such as opera and oratorio.
Our stops on the Grand Tour include the Italy of Monteverdi, Spain, the national instrument of which has always been the “Spanish Guitar”, Scotland and Ireland where, as the Guinness icon attests, the Harp has always been the pre-eminent symbol of Irish Culture. This portion, particularly appropriate to St. Patrick’s Day, features the music of Ireland’s legendary blind harpist: Turlough O’Carolan.
England was the recipient of all this continental culture including many famous composers like Georg Frideric Handel, and there were even new musical impulses coming from the exploration of the “New World”. The greatest of all the Spanish guitarist/composers, Santiago de Murcia, created vivid musical works which evoke the mixture of African, European and Latin cultures which flowed together there.
ARTISTS:
Maxine Eilander, baroque harp
Stephen Stubbs, baroque guitar