A Wonderful Early Music Concert

Thank you to everyone who came out for a musical treat: A Live @ the Conservatory concert inspired by Renaissance and Baroque music with Dominic Schaner, lute + therobo, and Amy Michele White, soprano. This concert at dusk concludes 5×5, a 2014-15 series of five signature Friends’ events celebrating 5 years in our restored Conservatory.

Sunday, August 23, 2015 pm @ 6:30 pm. Doors open at 6:00pm. Suggested donation $15.  No one turned away. Tix at the door or online:

Program: Heresy of the Free Spirit. The evening’s music seeks to divine the improvisatory & unbound (or free) nature of Early Music in light of the mystical tradition from which the program takes its title.  Similar to the writings of Marguerite Porete,

the music presented here may glimpse poetry & mysticism in fleeting & free spirited improvisation.  Heresy of the Free Spirit explores long & free form pieces, drones & non-retrogradable patterns, improvisational works for lutes, new music composed in a minimalist style influenced by 16th & 17th century compositional practices, 13th Century Cantigas de Santa Maria and 17th Century Airs de Cour and Monody.

Co-Sponsored by the Friends of Sunnyside Conservatory and San Francisco Park and Recreation Department.

Lutenist, musicologist and composer, Dominic Schaner grew up on a small family farm in rural California. Here, in this infinite expanse of nature, he was introduced to music. During his following musical life, Dominic has given concerts as both a solo and ensemble musician throughout North America and the UK. He has lectured at Boston University, Harvard, the University of Dallas, and Palomar College. Dominic founded & directs the The Euphora Project and curates a radio show by the same name on KOWS 107.3 fm from 6-8pm every 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month, where he explores private pressings, minimalism, drone, and early music; guided by Sun Ra.

Soprano, Amy Michele White, a San Francisco native, appears frequently in the bay area as an opera and oratorio soloist with great sensitivity and power. She has enjoyed playing roles such as Cupid in Venus and Adonis, Despina in Cosi fan tutte, La Poesie in Les Arts Florissants, Susana in Susana’s Secret. Equally at home with sacred music, Amy’s latest oratorio engagements have included Scarlatti’s Cantata Pastoral, Bach’s St. John’s Passion, B minor Mass, Magnificat, Handel’s Dixit Dominus, Mass in G, Messiah, and Mozart’s Laudate Dominum. Performing Baroque chamber music with The Euphora Project continues to bring her great joy. (www.amymichelewhite.com)