The Wren Masters, a classical quartet from Williamsburg, will perform “Birdsongs and Music from the Scottish Baroque” from 4-6 p.m. on Saturday, April 23, inside Historic Christ Church at 420 Christ Church Road, Weems.
This special presentation features a set of baroque pieces imitating birds, from hens and roosters to a nightingale, quail and cuckoo, and for good measure, even a frog and cat. A set of pieces “from the Highlands” follows with baroque music from Scotland whose traces can still be found in traditional music of the Appalachians. Beginning and concluding the program are two sparkling Telemann trip sonatas, according to Historic Christ Church and Museum Executive Director Robert Teagle.
In addition to Telemann, the concert features musical works emulating the sounds of birds by Biber, Couperin, Merula and William Williams. The “Scottish Highlands” section will focus on the music of Nicola Matteis, Alexander Munro, John Walsh, and traditional Scottish tunes arranged by Robert Bremner.
The Wren Masters is a baroque quartet who are all current or former members of the performing artist faculty at the College of William and Mary. They include Thomas Marshall on harpsichord, Susan Via on baroque violin, Sarah Glosson playing baroque cello and viola da gamba, and Ruth Griffioen on recorder.
Historic Christ Church, completed in 1735 and Lancaster County’s only National Historic Landmark, offers an unparalleled acoustic and historic setting for the concert, Teagle said. Tickets are $25 and include an intermission with libations. Tickets may be purchased at christchurch1735.org, at the HCC&M office or at the door.
The performance is part of HCC&M’s Bringing Music to Life Concert Series. The event is funded by the River Counties Community Foundation, the J. Edwin Treakle Foundation, the Virginia Commission for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
