Rose Ensemble Touring Concerts
- Voices of Ancient Mediterranean Christians, Jews & Muslims
- Slavic Wonders - Feasts and Saints in Early Russia, Poland & Bohemia
- The Last Queen of Hawai'i: Music from the Soul of the Hawaiian Saga
- And Glory Shone Around – Early American Hymns, Ballads and Spiritual Songs
- Il Poverello - Exploring the Life and Deeds of St. Francis of Assisi
- Celebremos el Niño - A Mexican Baroque Christmas
Voices of Ancient Mediterranean Christians, Jews & Muslims
Centuries
of dedication and folklore in the chapels, synagogues and courts of early
Italy, Spain and Portugal produced music with rhythms that reverberated
across the Mediterranean. In this program spanning four centuries of vocal
and instrumental music, a diverse collection of Arab-Andalusian dances,
Sephardic laments, Spanish villancicos, Hebrew chants and Galician
spiritual cantigas come together in a fascinating exploration of
language, culture and faith from a time that is not so different from our
own.
"This program wasn’t a performance. It was
more like a resurrection. The Rose Ensemble breathes life into stark, ancient
manuscripts . . . restores them as new creations."
--Ames Life & Times
Technical information: Works best in venues with live but not overly reverberant acoustics. Smaller halls allow audience members to see the fascinating array of instruments but this performance also works beautifully in spaces that seat several hundred. Some choose to use ambient amplification with this program, but it is not essential. Introductions of various pieces and instruments as well as commentary from the stage is available.
Equipment needed: 4 chairs, 4 music stands, microphone (for narration)
Listen to a sample from this concert
A copy of this program is available in PDF format.
For more information about rates and available dates, contact us at: bookings@RoseEnsemble.org
Slavic Wonders - Feasts and Saints in Early Russia, Poland & Bohemia
We
invite you to visit these ancient places and more, where mysterious chants,
joyful hymns and magnificent choral works are mingled with tales of folk
heroes. Slavic Wonders includes stunning 12-part Baroque motets from the
Russian Orthodox tradition, medieval Latin chants for Slavic saints and
powerful double-choir works from the Polish Renaissance. With repertoire
and a stage presence hailed by presenters and audiences as ethereal and
captivating, and a vocal blend and range called "supernatural"
by the critics, The Rose Ensemble has presented this program to capacity
crowds across the U.S. and Europe.
"Vibrant, resplendent performances . . . The Rose Ensemble specializes in uncanny blend and rhythmic virtuosity.""
--Berkshire Eagle
Technical information: A large, reverberant church is the best venue for Slavic Wonders. Readings from the stage are a part of this program.
Equipment needed: microphone (for narration)
For more information about rates and available dates, contact us at: bookings@RoseEnsemble.org
The Last Queen of Hawai'i: Music from the Soul of the Hawaiian Saga
Through music, movement and narration, Hawai'i Revealed honors the Hawaiians' struggle to keep alive the rich musical traditions nearly eradicated by the arrival of Captain Cook and American missionaries. The result of almost three years of historical research, this masterful program includes ancient Hawaiian chant and hula, missionary hymns, gorgeous compositions by Hawaiian monarchs, Victorian art songs and fun-loving cowboy tunes created by migrant workers on Hawaii's horse and cattle ranches. What's more, audience members have the opportunity to learn more about Hawaiian history and culture than they might expect!
...a world-renowned vocal group that has spent the
dozen years of its existence combining extraordinary scholarship, a sense
of adventure, and breathtaking technique to explore a wide range of early
music.
-- Minneapolis City Pages
Technical information: A theatre-type space with a stage works best for this program as some of the music is performed seated and hula is also featured. However, the raised nature of a church altar area can serve this purpose. Some choose to use ambient amplification with this program, but it is not essential. Readings from the stage are a part of this program.
Equipment needed: piano, upright bass (bass violin), 3 chairs, 3 music stands, microphone (for narration)
For more information about rates and available dates, contact us at: bookings@RoseEnsemble.org
And Glory Shone Around – Early American Hymns, Ballads and Spiritual Songs
The
Rose Ensemble presents some of its most popular music in this joyful program
featuring ballads, dances, hymns and anthems. Witness a musical evolution
across time as our singers and instrumentalists journey through the dancehalls
of Boston, to Shaker villages and the hills of Appalachia, exploring the
harmonies that gave birth to bluegrass.
The vocalists are the soul of the group, with clear,
young-sounding voices that seem infinitely flexible and perfectly blended.
-- Pioneer Press
Technical information: Usually tours in December as a Christmas program, but our extensive early American repertoire can be easily fashioned as a joyful program suitable for any time of the year. Can also be combined with Hawaiian program. Almost any space can work for this performance. Venues with reverberant acoustics will give greater emphasis to the choral works, while more intimate spaces will highlight the quicker tempi, foot-stomping and various instruments.
Equipment needed: 4 chairs, 4 music stands
For more information about rates and available dates, contact us at: bookings@RoseEnsemble.org
Il Poverello - Exploring the Life and Deeds of St. Francis of Assisi
During
his lifetime, Francis pursued a life of simplicity and became known as il
poverello, "the poor one." The patron saint of animals and ecology,
he is arguably one of the best known medieval saints. But beyond garden
statues and the Prayer of St. Francis (which, by the way, he didn't write),
how much do we really know? This joyful program features centuries of hymns,
dances and motets in honor of the "hippie saint," as well as early
Italian spiritual songs and light-hearted readings by and about Francis
himself. Includes the full force of 12 voices plus harp, riqq, dumbek, hurdy
gurdy, psaltery and recorder.
"The Rose Ensemble has cornered, reincarnated
and reinvigorated a vast and difficult niche of music."
--St. Paul
Pioneer Press
Technical information: Usually tours in October to coincide with St. Francis' feast day, but available year-round. Almost any space can work for this performance. Venues with reverberant acoustics will give greater emphasis to the Renaissance choral works, while more intimate spaces will highlight the quicker tempi and percussion instruments. Readings from the stage are a part of this program and a microphone is usually needed.
Equipment needed: 3 chairs, 3 music stands, microphone (for narration)
For more information about rates and available dates, contact us at: bookings@RoseEnsemble.org
Celebremos el Niño - A Mexican Baroque Christmas
Early
Mexican music resounds in this joyful holiday program featuring over two
centuries of festive Christmas dances, ballads and villancicos from the
great cathedrals of Puebla and Mexico City. Accompanied by viola da gamba,
vihuela da mano and several percussion instruments (including African
drums), solos and choruses burst forth in this program that's anything but
predictable.
"Because of the beauty of the music, the variety
of the voices, the liveliness of the personalities and the improvisatory
support of gentle instruments, the performance was engaging from beginning
to end."
-- Cleveland Plain Dealer
Technical information: Celebremos el Niño can accommodate nearly any type of venue from small, intimate spaces to large, very reverberant churches.
Equipment needed: 3 chairs, 3 music stands
For more information about rates and available dates, contact us at: bookings@RoseEnsemble.org
Additional Information
Included in programming and fees:
- One full-length concert performance (90-120 minutes)
- One master-class, workshop, or lecture demonstration of up to two hours (schedule permitting)
- Air and ground transportation and meals
Presenters are asked to provide:
- Accommodations for one or two nights, depending on scheduling, (5-6 double rooms and 1-2 single rooms)
References from past presenters, as well as live concert highlights and reviews, are available upon request.