ASHEVILLE BAROQUE CONCERTS: The Splendors of Versailles in Asheville

ASHEVILLE BAROQUE CONCERTS: The Splendors of Versailles

ASHEVILLE BAROQUE CONCERTS
The Splendors of Versailles: Flute revolution!
Music by François Couperin, Louis-Antoine Dornel, Jean-Baptiste Quentin and GP Telemann

Michael Lynn, Baroque flute and recorder; Jeanne Johnson, Baroque violin; Gail Ann Schroeder, viola da gamba; and Barbara Weiss, harpsichord

ABCs opens its fourth season with special guest Michael Lynn, professor of Baroque flute and recorder at the Oberlin Conservatory. Mr. Lynn brings his Baroque flute to perform with Gail Ann Schroeder, viola da gamba; Jeanne Johnson, Baroque violin; and Barbara Weiss, harpsichord in a concert exploring the rich heritage of French flute music from the court of Versailles.

Up until JS Bach’s birth, there were no pieces written specifically for flute. The earlier flutes blended well with soft instruments, but sharps and flats were difficult to tune. Rapid and sweeping changes in flute design allowed for increased nuances of color and dynamics, and made it possible to play the flute in any key. Suddenly composers were writing flute solos and using flutes in their orchestral pieces.This newly minted flute, made of wood and also known as the Baroque flute or traverso, was particularly popular at the French court in Versailles, where the rulers required new compositions to be played daily.

Michael Lynn has performed throughout North America, Taiwan and Japan with Tafelmusik, Apollo’s Fire, Smithsonian Chamber Players and the Oberlin Baroque Ensemble; and had the honor to perform at President Barack Obama’s first Inaugural Luncheon in 2009.

Categories: Performing Arts