WARWICK The DNA Quintet (Loma Mar Quartet with bassist John Feeney) and The Serenade Quartet will join forces with organist Gregory Hayes to perform the rarely played Battalia by H.I. F. Biber (1644-1704) on Sunday, June 3, at 5 p.m. at Pacem in Terris.
Proceeds from the After the Storm benefit will support the reconstruction of the terrace outside Pacem in Terris along the Wawayanda River so that future audiences and performers will once again have a place to congregate before, after and during intermission of the concerts at Pacem in Terris.
Composer Paul Hindemith referred to Biber as the most important Baroque composer before J.S. Bach, and Battalia is considered one of the most ingenious compositions of the entire Baroque period. Eight different folksongs are played at the same time in the avant-garde second movement. Depictions of officers fencing, a sad pre-battle farewell aria, battle music and cannon fire are depicted with innovative string techniques. This piece ends with a movement titled Lament of the wounded musketeers.
Also on the program is the Summer violin concerto from Antonio Vivaldis The Four Seasons with violin soloist Krista Bennion Feeney. In the final movement, Vivaldi portrays in music a catastrophic summer storm not unlike the two massive storms of late summer/fall 2011 (including Hurricane Irene) which caused such damage to many in our region, Pacem in Terris included.
The performers will be Krista Bennion Feeney; Anca Nicolau; Beth Miller – violin; Owen Dalby- violin/viola; Joanna Hood; David Cerutti; Meena Bhasin – viola; Myron Lutzke – cello; John Feeney – bass; Gregory Hayes – organ.
Pacem in Terris is a not-for-profit organization under the Education Laws of the State of New York, located at 96 Covered Bridge Road, Warwick. No reservations are possible. Tickets go on sale at 4 p.m. at the suggested donation of $15.