Fortunately, the Lucas Theatre came to my rescue! Haley had me scheduled for tonight's show. Hooray!
What was it, you ask?
A combining of talents of the Savannah Philharmonic and the Savannah Childrens' Choir as they went for baroque!
(smile!)
Seriously!
Titled "An Evening of Baroque: Handel, Bach & Vivaldi", the concert showcased pre-Classical music from 1600 to 1750. Like the architecture of the same name, Baroque music features elaborate ornamentation and wide ranges in instrumentation. In other words, it's the precursor of jazz.
That's okay by me!
Bring on the oboe, the violin, the flute, the harpsichord!
The oboe? Oh, yes! It's not just an odd instrument played by Jason Onks in Tennessee. Oh, no, not at all. Tonight, I heard the "Oboe Concerto in C minor", a piece centered on the woodwind. Very nice and seemingly familiar it was!
My appreciation and thanks to John Canarina for helping me understand the music presented tonight. He gave an educational pre-concert talk to explain the nuts and bolts of this musical style. He also provided insights on the composers, including the religious natures and identities of the three composers: Bach, Vivaldi, and Handel.
The one work of Vivaldi showcased, his "Gloria, RV589", featured the Savannah Childrens' Choir in what was easily the longest piece performed. It consisted of twelve sections of separate music, known as movements. Some movements were solely choral, some were solos or duets, and some were sung by both the choir and a soloist. Such an elaborate work! Rather beautiful, too.
A Bach work which had been lost to the world for two centuries was revealed to us tonight. Well, not the entire work! "Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D major, BWV1050" was proffered, featuring violin, flute, and harpsichord, in three movements. My favorite was the third one - I do believe I could whistle that one!
Handel was represented by two pieces (as was Bach). My favorite of the two was the one in the second half, as the final number. Why? Because of the Savannah Philharmonic Chorus! "Zadok The Priest, HWV 258" is also a familiar piece, as it has been heard at every English coronation since 1727. Not that there have been any coronations in my lifetime! Long live Queen Elizabeth!
As good as all of that was, as enjoyable as it made the evening, none of it was the highlight of the show.
That highlight was not even originally a part of the program.
It was an impromptu decision in response to recent world events.
Right after the intermission, the musicians were standing with their instruments.
Standing, after sitting all evening.
The Savannah Philharmonic Chorus members were also onstage, also standing.
We waited.
With no announcement about a program change, they launched into "La Marseillaise", the national anthem of France, the call to fight against tyranny and foreign invasion.
Suddenly, spontaneously, everyone was standing, every man, woman, and child in the audience, showing solidarity with the French.
It didn't matter whether anyone across the ocean knew we had done so, it didn't matter whether anyone elsewhere ever knew we had stood as one with those in Paris.
We knew.
What an incredible moment, frozen in crystalline time in my memory.
i thank God i was part of it.
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