Czech out these gems
BOHEMIA
Van Diemen’s Band St David’s Cathedral, Hobart May 18
CONCERTS
by Van Diemen’s Band in Hobart and Launceston last week focused on works composed in the 17th century Czech-speaking lands of the kingdom of Bohemia.
Van Diemen’s Band violinist and artistic director Julia Fredersdorff had searched out old manuscripts in Europe, with much of the music not having been heard in performance since the time of composition. In some cases notation was so basic that the performer was expected to extemporise both rhythm and articulation in line with accepted practices by musicians of that time.
Historically informed groups such as Van Diemen’s Band now bring this music to life once again. For this event the band comprised Fredersdorff and Lizzy Welsh (violins), Karina Schmitz (viola), Laura Vaughan and Brett Rutherford (violas da gamba), Simon Martyn-Ellis and Nicholas Pollock (theorboes). The theorbo players made the strongest impression, especially in music so wonderfully written for the instruments as Kapsberger’s Toccata Prima from Libro Quatro D’Intavolatura di Chitarone. Pachelbel’s ubiquitous Canon and
Gigue has become overly familiar in recent times and seemed curiously out of place despite the fresh approach and scoring.
Otherwise, the program offered expert performances of some rediscovered gems.