When the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra comes to Nanaimo next week they’ll be celebrating not only the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, but the craftspeople and patrons who made that music possible.
The renowned Toronto ensemble is bringing its multimedia program J.S. Bach: The Circle of Creation to the Port Theatre on Monday, Jan. 28. Tafelmusik double bassist Alison Mackay conceived of the show and describes it as “a bit of a combination of a documentary film and a concert.”
“The idea of the show is that it’s about the material world of J.S. Bach,” she explained. “It’s about everything that had to happen between the moment where he had inspiration in his mind about what music he wanted to write to the actual realization of the music in a concert.”
Through accompanying images, video and narration, the concert brings attention to classical music’s behind-the-scenes contributors, from those who made the paper and ink Bach used to compose his music, to luthiers who built his musicians’ instruments.
Mackay noted that Baroque-era string instruments use “gut strings” made from sheep’s intestines, “so you actually see some film of the sheep guts arriving from the abattoir and you see the process of them being made into these beautiful strings.”
The narration also discusses the city of Leipzig’s role as Bach’s employer and how it was able to fund its music program by taxing traders visiting the city’s large international markets. Mackay said the videos put the music in a historical and social context.
“We revere these famous names with reason, like Bach, but there are many, many anonymous people … who have to make their incredible contribution to make art happen and to make music happen,” she said. “And so in a way it’s an exploration and reflection and celebration of all of those people and by extension it’s a look at our own orchestral life and all of the people who enable us to make our music.”
This year marks the 40th anniversary of Tafelmusik as well as Mackay’s 40th, and last, year with the group. She said she’s grateful to have been with the orchestra for so long, but added it’s “time to pass the mantle onto somebody younger.” Mackay said Tafelmuik is in good hands.
“I’ll be leaving with regret, but the group has a very exciting future,” she said. “And we have a wonderful new musical director, Elisa Citterio, who’s come just in the last couple years from Italy and she’s bringing a lot of life to the ensemble and I think there’ll be great things ahead that I’ll be looking forward to seeing.”
WHAT’S ON … The Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra performs at the Port Theatre on Monday, January 28 at 7:30 p.m. Adult tickets range from $33 to $54, $18 for students.
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