Community Music Center: CMC Sessions: Baroque Improvisation Workshop with Shirley Wong-Frentzel

Improvisation and Interpretation of Non-Rhythmic Musical Scores of the 18th Century French and Italian Unmeasured Preludes

Special Guest Artists:
Margarita Pinkosz, harpsichord
Nicola Skidmore, flute
Tregar Otton, violin

May 18 at 2:30pm
CMC Concert Hall
Free

Improvisation may have the reputation for being associated with modern music like jazz and rock, but in fact has a long musical history. CMC piano faculty Shirley Wong-Frentzel will illuminate the “unmeasured” compositional styles used in the Baroque period that called for performers to improvise. Learn to read and interpret these 18th C non-standard notations without rhythm or meter indications through examining the works of composers Louis Couperin, Elizabeth de la Guerre, and Louis D’anglebert. Performance demonstrations and discussion will also explore historical considerations to help inform authentic performance practices.

This workshop is for intermediate–advanced piano players. Scores will be provided. There will be time for questions and players will also be invited to try some of these keyboard techniques.