Now in its 21st season, Early Music Now (EMN) continues to illuminate the Milwaukee music scene with performances of pre-1800 vocals, songs and experience.
Early Music Now specializes in Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque music that contains not just an element of historical significance but reflects the culture, education and society of the times. While such a comprehensive message is a considerable undertaking, Early Music Now relies on precise execution and prestigious caliber. A great audience helps, too.
This weekend at UW-Milwaukee, Early Music Now holds its annual silent auction and chocolate reception to be followed by the latest performance, "Shameless Commerce."
The silent auction and chocolate reception offers a bounty of delicious chocolate rarities to enjoy while visitors bid on an array of riches. Auction items include concert tickets, dinner and travel packages as well as professional services and local gifts. All proceeds will support Early Music Now's concert series as well as educational outreach programs in the area.
"Shameless Commerce" is the perfect coincidence of past and present. The performance reveals the communication of goods and services in Renaissance England through the cries of English Street priors as they advertise sales and services in the village streets. In the current age of information and international markets, it is hard to imagine a timelier topic. However, while themes may approach current debates, the presentation and music of "Shameless Commerce" will transport you back in time.
A combination of vocals, melody and key instrumental elements, "Shameless Commerce" blends works of composers who littered their songs with slogans of small tradesmen. As described by Early Music Now, "The culture, arts, architecture, business and commerce of the day the music was originally written and presented comes alive -- charming, seducing, captivating and enchanting in ways that books and words alone are unable to do."
Hesperus, a Washington / Baltimore based performance group, comes to Milwaukee to present this show to the Early Music Now audience. Scholar Tina Chancey leads the five-member vocal ensemble, which has been recognized internationally and continues to perform all over the United States.
The program "celebrates all manner of musical commerce in this unusual program of madrigals, lute songs, rounds and catches," a Hesperus statement notes. The performance draws on 11 musicians as it deals with the free exchange of goods, services and information in public spaces.
"Director Tina Chancey combines the new Hesperus Viol Consort with five singers and a lutenist to recreate the sounds of Renaissance London, with its ubiquitous street criers hawking merchandise both exotic and mundane, along with the news of the day," the statement says.
Early Music Now was founded in 1987 and has brought performances to churches, cathedrals, libraries and university auditoriums. And as the staff will attest, the stage is set by the elegance of our venues, and by the excellence of our performers. Early Music Now is a non-profit organization and has stuck to a tradition of incorporating new artists as well as continuing the success and promotion of established artists in the industry.
The organizational approach is based on an open creativity and their didactic board of directors (teachers, attorneys, doctors, accountants) ensures that vitality and variety will never be lost.
The Annual Chocolate Reception and Hesperus' "Shameless Commerce" performance is held Saturday at Helene Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts at UW-Milwaukee. The Chocolate Reception begins at 3 p.m., with the performance to follow at 5 p.m. Call (414) 225-3113.
