The classical music calendar includes the Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra\u2019s first summer \u201cValley Vivaldi\u201d concert and a performance by the Raleigh Ringers hand bell choir.<\/p>\n
Established in 1982, the Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra begins its 44th season showcasing five of the most prolific composers of the Baroque period.<\/p>\n
Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra presents \u201cValley Vivaldi,\u201d 7 p.m. June 28, Christ Lutheran Church, Allentown.<\/p>\n
The concert opens with two movements from Johann Sebastian Bach\u2019s \u201cViolin Solo Sonata No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001\u201d (1720). Violin soloist Inna Eyzerovich performs the \u201cAdagio,\u201d considered the most expressive movement, and the \u201cFuga,\u201d the most brilliant and technically-demanding.<\/p>\n
Next is George Frideric Handel\u2019s five-movement \u201cTrio Sonata in F, Op. 2 No. 4, HWV 389\u201d (1730) featuring Rainer Beckmann, recorder; Simon Maurer, violin; Noelle Casella, cello, and Benjamin D\u2019Annabale, harpsichord.<\/p>\n
Guest contralto Robin Bier performs \u201cErbarme Dich\u201d from J.S. Bach\u2019s sacred oratorio \u201cSt. Matthew Passion.\u201d The selection is one of the most moving passages of the \u201cPassion\u201d when Peter asks for mercy after he denies knowing Jesus.<\/p>\n
After intermission, the concert continues with two pieces composed in 1692 by Henry Purcell.<\/p>\n
\u201cCorydon and Mopsa,\u201d featuring vocalists Robin Bier and Graham Bier, is a comic selection from \u201cThe Fairy Queen,\u201d a semi-opera based on William Shakespeare\u2019s \u201cA Midsummer Night\u2019s Dream.\u201d From \u201cHail, Bright Cecilia\u201d is \u201cHark! hark! each Tree its silence breaks\u201d with whimsical lyrics that create a connection between the wood used to make musical instruments and the trees from which they came.<\/p>\n
Showcasing Antonio Vivaldi\u2019s theatrical flair is his \u201cSonata for Two Violins and Continuo, Op. 1 No. 6, RV 62\u201d (1705). The concert closes with Georg Philipp Telemann\u2019s \u201cConcerto in B-flat major for 2 Recorders, Strings & B.c., TWV 52:B1\u201d (1718) in a blend of Italian and French styles.<\/p>\n
Robin Bier has appeared with the American Bach Soloists, Washington Bach Consort, Bach Choir of Bethlehem, Reading Choral Society and Yorkshire Baroque Soloists and is founder and co-director of the solo-voice Early Music ensemble, Les Canards Chantants.<\/p>\n
Bier received Bachelors in voice performance and environmental studies from Oberlin College, and a Masters in solo-voice ensemble singing and a Ph.D. in Musicology from the University of York, England.<\/p>\n
Graham Bier has sung with I Fagionlini, Stile Antico, The Thirteen and the Yorkshire Baroque soloists.<\/p>\n
Bier received a Bachelor of Arts from Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music and a Master of Arts with distinction and PhD in musicology from the University of York, England.<\/p>\n
Bier is co-director of Les Canards Chantants, Director of Music for the Bryn Athyn Church and Music Director of the Reading Choral Society.<\/p>\n
\u201cValley Vivaldi,\u201d Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra, 7 p.m. June 28, Christ Lutheran Church, 1245 Hamilton St., Allentown. Tickets: at the door, Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra office, 1524 W. Linden St., Allentown; 610-434-7811; https:\/\/www.pasinfonia.org<\/p>\n
The Raleigh Ringers Summer Tour includes a concert at 7 p.m. June 30, First Presbyterian Church, Allentown.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Raleigh Ringers are currently on its summer tour making our way to Chautauqua, New York, and through our gracious co-hosts, the First Presbyterian Church of Allentown and the Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit in Emmaus, we are very much looking forward to performing in Allentown,\u201d says David Harris, Director of the Raleigh Ringers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis concert is an American sampler covering music of six different genres so there\u2019s something for everyone: sacred, jazz, ragtime, rock \u2018n roll, folk and traditional Americana.\u201d<\/p>\n
The group plays on the largest set of hand bell or hand bell-like instruments in the world, comprising 494 pieces of equipment, which includes more than 350 bells. Their three-octave, 37-bell set of Dutch hand bells manufactured by Petit & Friston is used to simulate the sound of tower bells.<\/p>\n
Selected by auditions, the 17 members meet weekly for three-hour rehearsals.<\/p>\n
Harris was introduced to hand bells in junior high school at his home church in Lock Haven, Clinton County. He rang hand bells while attending The Pennsylvania State University. After he moved to Raleigh, N.C., In 1990, he formed The Raleigh Ringers.<\/p>\n
Harris has led more than 200 hand-bell festivals and workshops in 39 states and in England, Puerto Rico, Canada and the Caribbean.<\/p>\n
He directs education groups sponsored by The Raleigh Ringers and Meredith College, Raleigh. N.C., where he is an adjunct professor.<\/p>\n
Raleigh Ringers Summer Tour, 7 p.m. June 30, First Presbyterian Church, 3231 W. Tilghman St., Allentown. Tickets: at the door; https:\/\/rr.org\/event\/allentown-pa\/<\/p>\n
\u201cClassical View\u201d is a column about classical music concerts, conductors and performers. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com<\/p>\n
David Harris<\/p>\n
Robin Bier<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The classical music calendar includes the Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra\u2019s first summer \u201cValley Vivaldi\u201d concert and a performance by…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":218786,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[119,121,120],"class_list":["post-218785","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-allentown","tag-allentown","tag-allentown-headlines","tag-allentown-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218785","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=218785"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218785\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/218786"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=218785"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=218785"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=218785"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}