Music City Baroque (formerly Belle Meade Baroque) brings the world of Historically Informed Performance to Nashville and the Middle Tennessee region. Through the use of period instruments, and the latest musicological findings on matters such as pitch, articulation and tempo, Nashville audiences are able to experience the world of seventeenth and eighteenth century music in all its original color and passion.
The mission of this not-for-profit organization includes performances with larger instrumental ensembles, workshops and programs with guest experts in the field from around the country, and on-going collaborations with area educational institutions.
History
It began with a phone call from Dr. George Riordan to Dr. Murray Somerville, just after he arrived to be Music Director at St. George’s Church in Nashville’s elegant Belle Meade area, in Fall 2003: “I know you from Boston, but you may not know me. My wife [Karen] is coming into town next weekend; how about a Baroque jam session here at MTSU?” So we did; and thought to ourselves, “Let’s put on a show!” When Karen Clarke then had a sabbatical from FSU the following fall semester, indeed we did just that – and gathered some other musicians for baroque Christmas music at St. George’s. Then other players wanted to join in – Rebecca had played baroque in a previous life, Chris had studied it at Oberlin, Clare at Indiana. And so the group started to grow.
Then Stuart Sparks mentioned to Murray that he loved the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields; could we get a group like that started in Nashville? So a board was formed, 501(c)(3) status obtained, and patrons sought. From the outset we determined that this would be a professional enterprise, paying proper fees to first-class musicians, to bring the most cutting-edge Historically Informed Performance to Nashville that we could manage; gut strings, baroque bows, early winds, historical tunings, the whole nine yards. We started putting together a whole season of concerts; the media were very supportive, with feature articles in several papers and magazines. We had guest directors like Robert Mealy and Brent Wissick; we performed with choirs like St. George’s Choir and the Nashville Boychoir, and formed our own chorus. We offered workshops at area colleges, and students were enthralled (and invited to participate.) Mitzi Matlock, with her experience of baroque groups in England, came on board; our audiences grew, and it was suggested we move beyond Belle Meade, with concerts first in Brentwood and East Nashville, then further afield, even unto Murfreesboro, Blair and downtown. And so the fifth season ended with an internationally acclaimed guest concertmaster, capping our fifth year of growth with a wonderful concert and a significant name change.
The Concerts and the Music
2004-2005 Season
Music of Loeillet, Geminiani, Couperin, Biber and Handel --- November 14, 2004, St. George’s Church
Music of Charpentier with St. George’s Choir --- December 24, 2004, St. George’s Church
2005-2006 Season
"Music for the Finest Salons" --- October 23, 2005, St. George’s Church
Jean-Baptiste Loeillet, Domenico Gabrielli, G.F. Handel, G.P. Telemann, Henry Purcell
Aria: “Alles mit Gott und nichts ohn’ ihn” BWV 1127 (Tennessee premiere): J.S. Bach
"Concertos Italian and Otherwise" --- May 7th 2006, St. George’s Church
Georg Philipp Telemann, Antonio Vivaldi, Tommaso Albinoni, Arcangelo Corelli, J.S. Bach
2006-2007 Season
Cantatas and more --- November 12, 2006, St. George’s Church
Cantata 99, Cantata 117: J.S. Bach; G.F. Handel, G.P. Telemann
A Question of Style --- February 4, 2007, St. George’s Church
Robert Mealy, guest concertmaster
Arcangelo Corelli, Henry Purcell, Jean-Baptiste Lully, George Frideric Handel, Jean-Philippe Rameau
Purcell with St. George’s Choir --- May 20, 2007, St. George’s Church
Henry Purcell: "Come, ye sons of art", Arcangelo Corelli, Georg Philipp Telemann.
2007-2008 Season
"...with a French accent..." --- October 14, 2007, St. George’s Church
Brent Wissick, gambist and cellist
G.F. Handel, Tomaso Albinoni, G.P. Telemann; Brandenburg Concerto # 3: J.S. Bach
"...'tis the season..." --- December 2, 2007, St. George’s Church
Christmas Concerto: Arcangelo Corelli; Brandenburg Concerto # 4: J.S. Bach; Messiah sing-along
Bach: St. John Passion --- March 2, 2008, St. George’s Church
With St. George’s Choir
"...out and about..." --- May 11, 2008, St. Ann’s Church, East Nashville
Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre, George Philip Telemann, François Couperin;
Brandenburg Concerto # 6: J.S. Bach
"...out and about..." --- May 18, 2008, Church of the Good Shepherd, Brentwood
Georg Philip Telemann, Jean-Marie Leclair, François Couperin, Georg Philip Telemann
Brandenburg Concerto # 5: J.S. Bach
2008-2009 Season
"Versailles on Main Street" --- October 5, 2008, St. Paul’s Church, Murfreesboro
Music of Jean-Baptiste Lully, Michel-Richard de LaLande, François Couperin, Marin Marais,
Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre.
Messiah Sing-along and more --- December 8, 2008, Christ Church Cathedral
Christmas Concerto: Arcangelo Corelli; Trumpet Concerto: G.P. Telemann; Messiah sing-along
Music of J.S. Bach --- March 8, 2009, Turner Concert Hall, Blair School of Music
Orchestral Suite No. 1; Motet: “Jesu, meine Freude”; Aria “Schlummert ein”; Cantata 95
with The Nashville Boychoir at Blair (Hazel Somerville, director) and Belle Meade Baroque Chorus
Fifth Anniversary Season Finale --- May 3, 2009, St. George’s Church
Monica Huggett, guest concertmaster/director
Music of Vivaldi, Bach and Geminiani