Alkemie

Thursday, March 7, 2019, 7 p.m.
The Kosciuszko Foundation

five-part medieval ensemble

Rosa das Rosas: Songs for the Virgin Mary

Five East Coast musicians founded Alkemie in 2013 to explore both the sublime and the earthly realms of medieval repertory. This Spanish program from the 13th to 16th centuries features singing and playing of multiple instruments—harp, recorders, vielle, and percussion. The pieces honor the Virgin Mary—most beautiful rose, miraculous healer, dragon slayer, and powerful intercessor during the upheaval of war.

“After hearing Alkemie at both the War Memorial Arts Initiative in Baltimore and at Capitol Early Music in Washington I eagerly booked them for the 2018 Indianapolis Early Music Festival. This is a terrific young medieval ensemble with great energy as well as scholarly chops.”

—Mark Cudek, Chair of the Historical Performance Department, Peabody Institute

Artist Bios and Program

Founded in the spring of 2013 by five friends with a zeal for medieval music, Alkemie’s mission is to share the life-affirming and alternative perspectives to be experienced in the sounds of centuries past. More specifically, we specialize in medieval music for high voices and instruments, with a particular interest in exploring the porous boundaries between the “high” and “low” music of this period. Alkemie’s performances of medieval music are grounded in historical performance practice and fed by our love of experimentation.

To date, Alkemie has developed and toured five programs along the Eastern Seaboard, with performances on early music concert series including the Indianapolis Early Music Festival, Capitol Early Music Series (Washington, DC), Gotham Early Music Scene (GEMS, New York City), Beacon Hill Concert Series (Stroudsburg, PA), Amherst Glebe Arts Response (AGAR, Amherst, VA), and the War Memorial Arts Initiative (Baltimore). Alkemie served as the Ensemble-in-Residence at the historic Grace Church in Newark, NJ from 2015 to 2017, and were Artists-in-Residence at the School of Fine Arts at Fairmont State University in West Virginia in 2016 and 2017. (www.alkemie.org).

Tickets

Individual Tickets
General Admission: $35
Season Subscriptions
General admission to all 3 concerts: $85

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