Focus on Flowers

Composers and music from the time of Leonardo da Vinci.

Rustic musical instruments and compositions in imitation of birds.

Suggestions to lend a wedding ceremony some early music flair.

This week on Harmonia we take a look at the evolution of the Orchestra as we know it, and the trials and tribulations of its creation.

Eighteenth century composer Georg Phillip Telemann may be best known for his orchestral suites and sacred cantatas, and as a professional rival of J.S. Bach. But he definitely had a lighter side. This week we explore Telemann the storyteller, with character pieces that were written strictly to make the audience smile, or even giggle.

Harp music from England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland was known throughout Europe for its beauty and technical brilliance. Harmonia will sample harps with gut strings and harps with metal strings and hear how each contributed to the flowering of these unique instruments. Also, two recent releases from Harmonia Mundi.

A “tenor” is not what you think. No, this week won’t feature popular Irish singers or famous opera stars. Much music from the middle ages and Renaissance employs a foundation melody called a tenor. It’s not quite the bass line, and not quite the tune. We’ll explore the various ways composers have used tenors to create all kinds of music.

What’s so special about music from Spain? Is it just the sound of a strumming guitar or the exciting rhythms of folk dance? Or is Spain’s unique musical history more complex than that? Harmonia will explore the sounds and influences that give early Spanish music a flavor distinctive from all other European music.

Have men and women ever really understood each other? In honor of Women’s History Month, this week’s program will explore songs composed from the woman’s point of view, some written by women, and some by men, on themes ranging from true love and its loss to revenge and beyond.

This week we celebrate the holiday season with music from Latin America, featuring the San Antonio Vocal Arts Ensemble.