Rocque ‘n’ Roll: Popular Music of Samuel de Champlain’s Era

Delighting audiences on both sides of the Atlantic for over 25 years and recognized as "Top Classical Crossover Artist" by Billboard Magazine, the early-music ensemble The Baltimore Consort will perform La Rocque ‘n’ Roll: Popular Music of the French Renaissance on Sunday, May 17 at 3:00 p.m. at the Church of the Assumption in Redford, New York. This will be the final concert on the Hill and Hollow Music series commemorating the Champlain Quadricentennial 1609-2009. General-seating tickets are $15 (member rate $12) and may be purchased in advance by mail or at the door one hour before the concert. For more information please call 518-293-7613 or visit on-line at www.hillandhollowmusic.org.

The Baltimore Consort is a virtuoso ensemble of six musicians specializing in early music from England, Scotland, France, Italy, and Spain—courtly and popular music, mostly secular, of the 16th to 18th centuries. Their love of early music has also led them to explore the rich troves of traditional balladry and dance tunes preserved in different regions of North America since colonial times. They make all their own harmonic arrangements of songs and dances, which usually have come down to us only as a single melody line. Through scholarship, imagination, and skill they bring centuries-old music back to life as it must have been heard originally. They use a great deal of improvisation, giving their live performances an edge of unpredictablity and excitement. Their music speaks to the heart as well as the mind, and each performance is unique.

The Baltimore Consort with guest soprano Danielle Svonavec