Events

Instrumental Master Class and Continuo Workshop

Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024
11:10 a.m.-1 p.m., Cal Poly Davidson Music Center, Room 218

For the first half, guest artists Leif Woodward, cello, and Andrew McIntosh, violin, will coach Cal Poly students in instrumental repertoire from the Baroque era, with a focus on historically informed performance. During the second half, the guest artists will coach students in effective continuo playing, which is the foundation of all Baroque music.

Free admission

Vocal Master Class

Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024
3:10 p.m., Cal Poly Davidson Music Center, Room 218

Guest artist Brian Giebler will coach several Cal Poly voice students in repertoire from the Baroque era.

Free admission

Akademie Lecture-Demonstration: Bach’s Evangelist

Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024
7:30 p.m., Cal Poly Davidson Music Center, Room 218

Bach Week Co-Director Scott Glysson will trace the history of Bach's Passions as a musical setting. Vocalists Brian Giebler and Ben Kazez, and accompanist Paul Woodring, will help demonstrate the various roles of the main characters that will be examined and demonstrated. 

Free admission

Chamber Concert: The Trio Sonata Ideal

Friday, Jan. 19, 2024
7:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church of San Luis Obispo 

One of the defining features of the new Baroque style was the so-called “trio sonata ideal.” In this, musical texture became stratified between a bass and two upper parts. This represented a shift from the equal polyphonic textures of the mature Renaissance style; in contrast, in the trio sonata ideal the middle of the texture is provided by the relatively simple chordal structures of the basso continuo. Nowhere is this ideal more obviously apparent than in the trio sonata, which, along with opera, was one of the defining genres of the Baroque style. This program will explore the evolution of the trio sonata throughout the Baroque period, in works by Bach, Castello, Corelli, Handel and others. The program will also present early vocal works for two singers and continuo by Claudio Monteverdi, showing how the trio sonata ideal operated in all genres, not just instrumental music. Members of Tesserae Baroque will perform: Andrew McIntosh, violin; Vijay Gupta, violin; Leif Woodward, cello; Ian Pritchard, harpsichord; Rebecca Myers, soprano; and Ben Kazez, baritone.

Tickets ($20 general, $10 students) 

Special ticket price: $30 general, $15 students if you purchase both the Jan. 19 and Jan. 21 concerts

Bach Week Finale: St. John Passion

Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024
3 p.m., Performing Arts Center

Members of Cal Poly’s Chamber Choir, Symphony and faculty will join with guest artists to perform Bach’s dramatic St. John Passion, BWV 245. First performed 300 years ago in 1724, this setting narrates the Passion of Christ as found in the Gospel of John. The Evangelist, sung by guest artist Brian Giebler, tells the story, while solo vocalists and choir provide emotional reflections from the individual and community perspective.

Tickets ($20 general, $10 students) 

Special ticket price: $30 general, $15 students if you purchase both the Jan. 19 and 21 concerts