Rose Ensemble Set for Houston Early Music Series, 12/15

By: Nov. 12, 2013
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The Rose Ensemble returns to the Houston Early Music series on Sunday, December 15 with its "And Glory Shone Around: An Early American Christmas" program of carols, country dances, hymns and spiritual songs. The concert begins at 5 p.m. at Christ Church Cathedral, 1117 Texas Ave., with a pre-concert talk with ensemble members beginning at 4:15 p.m.

"This is a beautiful and, dare I say, fun program," said Jordan Sramek, The Rose Ensemble's founder and director. "We've been performing it all over the U.S. and audiences are having a ball with it."

Featuring 17th century pieces - demonstrating that "music was a vital part of myriad aspects of Colonial life" - and 19th century Shaker hymns, the program presents selections from "The Southern Harmony, and Musical Companion" shape-note songbook and John Playford's "The English Dancing Master" as well as Acadian dance tunes.

Sramek calls the program "a wonderful exploration of North American history" that highlights "the fact that early music can be defined in a number of ways."

Among the earliest productions featured in the program are dances from Playford's "The English Dancing Master," published in London in 1651. Tunes such as "Drive the Cold Winter Away" and "Juice of Barley," serve as a reminder of the Colonialists' love of country dancing.

"The Southern Harmony" shape-note songbook lends the program such favorites as "Star in the East." Shaker hymns include "Christmas Eve" and "Peace and Joy," and lively Acadian dances like "La Bastringue" and "A San Malo a Bord de Mer" are bound to raise spirits and get toes tapping.

For its Houston performance, the ensemble will feature nine vocalists, including tenor Sramek, along with three instrumentalists playing a variety of plucked and bowed-string instruments that include a gourd banjo, guitar, mandolin, harp, fiddle and double bass. The group, whose members are renowned for their solo abilities as well as their ensemble skills, has released nine critically acclaimed recordings.

Season subscriptions and individual tickets for the Houston Early Music 2013-2014 season can be purchased at HoustonEarlyMusic.org.

General admission tickets for "And Glory Shone Around: An Early American Christmas" are available for $40; seniors $35; and students with valid student ID cards $20.

Photo by Michael Haug Photography



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