I knew I shouldn't have worn shorts on Tuesday…

…because on Wednesday it was 55 degrees colder and then it got to be 60 degrees colder! Remind me to avoid tempting the Weather Channel–since it controls the weather, of course–next year. Or ever.

Anyway, we are puttering along, working on the May Convivencia concert, planning all the concerts for next season, working on grants, wrapping up the creation of our first newsletter (due out next week), and just generally not taking it easy, because All The Things Must Be Done.

And Amplify Austin Day, hosted by I Live Here I Give Here, is happening in a few days. See the details below!

Remember, even if you don’t live here, you can give here. Since TEMP is expanding its reach via videos on YouTube and other formats, you can support us from afar. Even from abroad. Or from around the corner.

More soon!
-Danny

---

AMPLIFY TEMP!
6 PM CST MARCH 2 — 6 PM CST MARCH 3

Amplify Austin Day, hosted by I Live Here I Give Here, is Central Texas' biggest day of giving, and we are excited to participate once again! As you know, we've been thrilled to perform in person this year! We are so grateful for all that we've been able to accomplish thanks to a supportive, wonderful community. We humbly request your continued support as we continue to fulfill our important mission—to preserve and advance the art of Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, and early Classical music—in new and creative ways.

Please visit our Amplify page to read more about it.

Here’s how you can help:

Your #amplifyaustin gift made anytime from now through March 3 allows us to:

• employ artists who have lost most, if not all, of their work this past year; 

• explore novel ways to deliver high quality performances and education to an audience no longer bound to Austin's city limits;

• grow and mature as an organization that is evolving with the times; and

• qualifies us for a variety of matching funds, listed on our Amplify page.

Early giving is open now, and every gift matters. But making your donation during the event time frame means your donation is AMPLIFIED by a community that supports its nonprofits.

We'd like to take a moment to specifically point out the "LoveTitos" match: In honor of its 25-year anniversary, Tito’s Handmade Vodka is working with I Live Here I Give Here to spread love and goodness throughout our hometown. Just be sure to enter #LoveTitos in the public message box at check out, and Tito's will add an extra $25 to your donation! They've allotted $25,000 to this match (Three cheers for Tito's!), but it will go fast. 

NO NEED TO WAIT: DONATE NOW!

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT!

Here's a busy bee week. No murder hornets.

For real, TEMP has a busy, busy week. Last week we were shivering, a couple of days ago we were sweating, for the next 9 days we are caffeinating!

The premiere of the Fresh Take, Baroque episode is this Saturday, Feb. 27 and all three Fresh Take episodes are available until March 4.

March 4 also happens to be the beginning of Amplify Austin, which almost every arts group and other non-profits depend on, especially this year when this things have been so…let’s face it: so weird. We could just be really verklempt about the whole situation or we and our muses could think up creative ways to stay in touch with you and make new friends, and get to see our colleagues (safely) from time to time to make some music! It’s worked out that we chose path #2, and so we do need a little assistance continuing that journey, and for some reason I feel compelled to call that assistance “Amplify”!

Now, where was I? Oh yes…

And then Night Music!, Episode 3 premieres on March 7. Gitanjali Mathur and I will be bringing you lullabies and other songs of comfort from Croatia and the Karelia province of Russia.

So in summation: See a nice movie about Baroque music history, Amplify, and then relax with soothing night music. And enjoy having no murder hornets.

-Danny

---

AMPLIFY TEMP!
6 pm March 4 — 6 pm March 5

We know it's not news: arts organizations, both in Austin and beyond, are being forced to adapt to the realities of this time. Rest assured that, with your help, TEMP IS UP TO THE CHALLENGE, offering exceptional virtual performances and educational content this artistic season. We humbly request your support as we seek to continue fulfilling our important mission—to preserve and advance the art of Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, and early Classical music—in new and creative ways!

Please visit our Amplify page to read more about it.

Here’s how you can help:

Your #amplifyaustin gift made anytime from now through March 5 allows us to:

• employ artists who have lost most, if not all, of their work this past year; 

• explore novel ways to deliver high quality performances and education to an audience no longer bound to Austin's city limits; and 

• grow and mature as an organization that is evolving with the times.

Donations made through Amplify Austin between now and March 5 also qualify for matching funds from Tito's Vodka, so your gift goes even further! Thank you for the vital support you give to us, and to the greater Austin arts community. Your generosity is invaluable.

NO NEED TO WAIT: donate NOW!

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT!

Giving Tuesday Now

#GivingTuesdayNow is a worldwide day of giving and unity on Tuesday, May 5 that aims to meet the urgent needs of nonprofits created by the pandemic. In central Texas, this is being hosted by I Live Here, I Give Here as an Amplify Austin event. Many of our local nonprofits are struggling as funding sources, ranging from ticket sales to City of Austin support, are plummeting. Please consider giving generously to support nonprofits of your choice by going to www.amplifyatx.org.

Texas Early Music Project is participating in this event, and if you wish to help support TEMP and its artists please go to TEMP’s page at www.amplifyatx.org/organizations/texas-early-music-project.

The pandemic has been devastating on so many levels for us as individuals, as families, as businesses, and as artists. But Texas Early Music Project, as an arts organization, is not throwing in the towel. We are working out what we will be doing to continue giving you, our audience, the experience of joy and beauty that music can bring, and finding ways that we can support our artists while we are on a performing hiatus. Please stay with us as we work out exactly how we are going to do this!

And meanwhile, while you are staying healthy in mind, body, and spirit, please enjoy our TEMP Taco Tuesdays, which provide you just the musical snack you need to carry you through these challenging times.

Danny Johnson, Artistic Director
Anthony Toprac, Board President

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT!

Unknown Facts

1960 Fender Concert Amplifier

So, it’s generally unknown, but pretty true, that I was in a band in high-school in Big Spring. Our name was the Summits, which was picked by going through the phone book and doing the closed-eyes and point technique and whatever the street name was, that was the selection. It was about the 3rd attempt. I don’t recall what the first ones were, but they were probably something like 18th street or Nolan or some other street that was nowhere as good as Summit Street. Anyway: I was the singer (I played bass a little) so since I didn’t have instruments to carry, I wound up carrying the amplifiers, which were, you know, necessary to a fledgeling rock band doing covers of the Beatles, Stones, Kinks, Dylan, Monkees, etc etc … Wow. I miss the Summits. Good times. There was that time that … well, more later.

And here it is is, &$^&$#@%&%$@ years later, and amplification is still necessary for music groups, even relatively fledgeling [compared to some] or established [compared to others] early music groups. So please help me amplify TEMP later this week: March 5–6!  Read all the deets below. And prepare yourself for some covers of Medieval French hits by Anonymous, Anonymous, and Machaut later this month.

More soon!
-Danny

AMPLIFY TEMP!
6 pm March 5 – 6 pm March 6

Our organizational goal is to raise $10,000 for our general operational expenses (especially for musicians’ compensation) and our educational outreach. TEMP is actively creating educational outreach programs to join forces with Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the Austin Independent School District. To make this program free for our partners, we need to raise funds for instruments, instructors, and performers. 

Please visit our Amplify page to read more about it.

Here’s how you can help:

Please consider donating $25 (or more!) on TEMP’s page on Amplify Austin. Any Amount Helps! Here are some suggestions:

• $25–$199 Helps with office supplies and program printing 

• $200–$499 Helps cover venue rental costs 

• $500–$999 Helps our educational outreach programs with TSVBI and AISD

• $750–$999 Assists with artist compensation

• $1,000–$4,999 Assists in Director compensation 

• $5,000 + Sponsors a concert

NO NEED TO WAIT: donate NOW!

Enter #LoveTitos and $5 will be added to your donation!

You don't have to wait until March 5 to participate in Amplify Austin! You can donate now! Just click on the "Donate now" button on the TEMP campaign page.  And if you enter the hashtag #LoveTitos when you check out, Tito’s Handmade Vodka will add an extra $5 to your donation!

BE A FUNDRAISING CHAMPION!

You can also become an individual fundraiser for TEMP by creating your own campaign page on the Amplify Austin website and inviting family, friends, and colleagues to donate to your TEMP campaign. Go to the TEMP campaign page and click on the "Fundraise"  button in the top right of the page next to the Donate button.

BE A MEDICI - BUT NICER! AMPLIFY TEMP AND AMPLIFY AUSTIN!

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT!

How Many Tudors did the Tudors Tutor?

So, while March comes roaring in like a lion bundled up in down and scarves, I really must thank all of you who supported TEMP and other nonprofits during the Amplify Austin campaign! Your generous contributions will help us present another spectacular concert season for 2019-2020 and will help us continue and “amplify” our education programs in Austin-area schools. I think the final totals for Amplify Austin Day were about $11.2 million (for 740 local organizations) and TEMP came in #18 among the Arts and Culture organizations with 58 donors who helped us reach almost 80% of our goal!

THANK YOU!

I think you will see the results on the concert stages and in our outreach programs!

Speaking of concert stages, we hope you are keeping track of the calendar and are making plans to come to our Tudor concert: It’s epic, both in the planning and the musical scope.

Here’s a little snippet from our concert of Eton Choirbook/Tudor music back in 2007 and recorded on our Sacred CD:

Tutor yourself by reading the Symphony of Voices concert details below—and thank you, TEMP Fans, for your generosity and enthusiastically amplifying TEMP!

With gratitude,
-Danny

---

A Symphony of Voices:
Choral Masterworks of Tudor England

Saturday, March 30, 2019, at  7:30 pm
Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2111 Alexander Avenue, Austin, TX
Sunday, March 31, 2019, 3:00 pm
St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 8134 Mesa Drive, Austin, TX

Admission $30 general; $25 seniors (60+); $5 students (at the door only)
Tickets available in advance online or by cash, check, or credit card at the door.

Take advantage of preferred seating and other perks by sponsoring a concert!

For more information, call 512-377-6961 and leave a message,
or email info@early-music.org.

A symphony of voices, 26 a cappella voices in this case, works in the same way an orchestral symphony might: There are thickly colorful choral tutti sections alternating with starkly transparent solo lines, hypnotically static harmonic rhythms alternating with florid vocal lines that are full of subtle virtuosity, resplendent with both shimmering beauty and unexpected dissonances resolving quickly to more beauty. This is the tradition of the Eton Choirbook, compiled between c.1490 and c.1510, during the transition from the late Medieval to the early Renaissance in England, which set the path for English choral music for generations. TEMP explores a few of the breathtaking masterpieces from the Eton collection as well as music from the contemporaneous English court.

Thanks to boosts from popular culture on television and in movies, more people than ever are aware of and interested in the very important Tudor court of Henry VIII. During the time during which the Tudors ruled England—almost 90 years, from 1509 until 1603—England’s importance in the world increased dramatically and English musical and artistic culture became more important. In addition to small masterpieces from prominent composers like Robert Fayrfax and William Cornysh, we will perform a least one work written by Henry VIII, who received lessons in music and languages from an early age as a part of the standard curriculum for royal children. He played harp, lute, recorder, harpsichord, and organ. Though some of his best-known compositions are lively and roughly hewn, a much larger percentage of his works are rather intimate and delicate pieces written with obvious care and skill. (No, he did not compose Greensleeves. Who starts these rumors?) Most of his compositions can be dated to the early part of his reign (1509-1547) and can be found in the so-called “Henry VIII manuscript,” which dates from about 1520.

The TEMP viol consort, led by Mary Springfels, will freshen the aural palate with some selections from the court and the chapel. The chorus will include several frequent guests, including countertenor Ryland Angel, Temmo Korisheli, Erin Calata, and former UT-EME member, Joel Nesvadba. They will be joining TEMP core members Jenifer Thyssen, Meredith Ruduski, Jenny Houghton, Stephanie Prewitt, Cayla Cardiff, Jeffrey Jones-Ragona, Gil Zilkha, Brett Barnes, and many more. Twenty-six singers, each a soloist in his or her own right, will help create an unforgettably beautiful experience.

Join us for a beautiful and moving concert that will illuminate the passage from the late Medieval to the early Renaissance with passion and beauty and soothe the souls of 21st century audience members.

Click on the image above to buy tickets now!

Man, this word is right on the tip of my brain…

Ya know it, right? It means to intensify something or augment something, right? Like if there’s a performing group and you’d like to support it or even boost it? Gah, what’s that word?! I mean, no matter how it may look from the outside, most cultural arts groups need to be strengthened with support so they can enhance their programs or supplement their reserves so they can magnify and focus and continue their efforts. TEMP is no different—we need this TLC, too! We have some special projects we want to undertake, in addition to our ambitious concert season, but it will take some…some…what’s that word???? I keep trying to think of this word late on a Sunday and all I can picture is Paul McCartney plugging his bass into a box that boosts the sound…. I know there’s a word there.

Paul McCartney Tone bender MKI, 1965B

I wonder if some of the younger generation of TEMPsters can help me out here? Let’s see:

Well, you all probably know what I’m trying to say. Boost TEMP Day is coming right up (6pm Feb. 28–6pm March 1)!! Read all the deets below.

More soon!
-Danny

AMPLIFY TEMP!

Our organizational goal is to raise $10,000 for our general operational expenses (especially for musicians’ compensation) and our educational outreach. TEMP is actively creating educational outreach programs to join forces with Texas School for the Visually Impaired and the Austin Independent School District. To make this program free for our partners, we need to raise funds for instruments, instructors, and performers. 

Please visit our Amplify page here to read more about it.

Here’s how you can help:

Please consider donating $25 (or more!) on TEMP’s page on Amplify Austin. Any Amount Helps! Here are some suggestions:

• $25–$199 Helps with office supplies and program printing 

• $200–$499 Helps cover venue rental costs 

• $500–$999 Assists with artist compensation 

• $1,000–$4,999 Assists in Director compensation 

• $5,000 + Sponsors a concert

NO NEED TO WAIT: PLEDGE NOW!

Enter #LoveTitos and $5 will be added to your donation!

You don't have to wait until February 28 to participate in Amplify Austin! You can donate now and it will post on February 28! Just click on the "Donate now" button on the TEMP campaign page.  And if you enter the hashtag #LoveTitos when you check out, Tito’s Handmade Vodka will add an extra $5 to your donation!

BE A FUNDRAISING CHAMPION!

You can also become an individual fundraiser for TEMP by creating your own campaign page on the Amplify Austin website and inviting family, friends, and colleagues to donate to your TEMP campaign. Go to the TEMP campaign page and click on the "Fundraise"  button in the top right of the page next to the Donate button.

BE A MEDICI - BUT NICER! AMPLIFY TEMP AND AMPLIFY AUSTIN!

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT!

Read All of This! School has started!

There's gonna be a pop quiz on it all!

August, you are the cruelest month, are you not? On the other hand, we know straight away what you're going to bring us, so maybe that's the wrong adjective. Anyway, during August we performed for the Public Radio Content Conference and brought them some live medieval music to get their day off to a good start—and to celebrate KMFA's Sara Schneider: her Ancient Voices/Early Music Now program has gone national, with several stations broadcasting her excellent program! Congrats, Sara!

And the 20 for 20 Campaign is still percolating along: Thanks for the support!

And now it's finally September! I can almost smell the pumpkin stout, pumpkin soup, pumpkin pancakes...right? Any day now! It's all just around the corner! No more weeks on end of 100°F+, right!?!?!? Cool days, cooler nights, amiright? Please say yes...

Maestro Daniel Johnson explains ensaladas, pieces that are featured on our Alegría: The Spanish Renaissance program. See more videos on our Gallery page!

Ok, I might live in dreamlandia, but we'll finally have a concert in a few weeks to kick off the 20th Season Anniversary, and it's one of my favorite themes, topped by the incredible ensaladas by Mateo Flecha. These are little epics,  illustrated with music in many different styles to fit the different texts; Señor Flecha knew what he was doing. La Justa (The Joust) is new to us and maybe to you! It tells the story of a tournament—a joust between good and evil, the light and the dark. You'll have to come to the concert to find out if that means Gandalf vs. Sauron, or Dumbledore vs. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, or maybe some other featured jousters! And there is much alegría throughout the concert!

Enjoy these audio teasers from our 2013 performances:

Voldemort! There. I said it!
-Danny

---

Alegría: The Spanish Renaissance

Saturday, September 22, 2018, at  7:30 pm
Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2111 Alexander Avenue, Austin, TX

Sunday, September 23, 2018, 3:00 pm,
St. Martin's Lutheran Church, 606 West 15th Street, Austin, TX

Admission $30 general; $25 seniors (60+); $5 students (at the door only)
Tickets available in advance online or by cash, check, or credit card at the door.

For more information, call 512-377-6961 and leave a message,
or email info@early-music.org.

---

Seriously? There are ensaladas on this concert?!?
Usually, if you want an ensalada, you go to a restaurant, not a concert, AMIRIGHT?

Not so fast, my friend! These ensaladas are a treat for the ears and the spirit, but have nothing to do with the delectable edible! Like most salads, they are created from a little of this and little of that, but that’s where the similarity ends. Filled with drama, Biblical quotations, exhortations, lovely melodies, and lots of humor, the ensaladas are toe-tappers from beginning to end! They were extraordinarily popular in many of the Cathedrals of Renaissance Spain—and were even banned in a few!

For a more solemn contrast, our program will explore some of the glorious wealth of polyphonic sacred music from the cathedrals and monasteries of 16th-century Spain, a repertoire that has served as inspiration for fans of choral music everywhere, with selections by Morales, Ceballos, and Peñalosa.

Other pieces in the concert feature the viol consort, led by our guest artist and viola da gamba star Wendy Gillespie, guest percussionist Peter Maund, and 3 sackbut (early trombone) players, led by University of Texas trombone faculty member Nathaniel Brickens.

Soloists and featured singers include Jenifer Thyssen, Gitanjali Mathur, Laura Mercado-Wright, Cayla Cardiff, Jeffrey Jones Ragona, David Lopez, Tim O’Brien, and featured countertenor, Ryland Angel.

¡Bailamos!

Click on the image above to buy tickets now!

By the light of the silvery moon...

 er, sun — whatever that is....

View fullsize

Well, it's quite an adventuresome summer so far! In addition to great concerts and the chance to visit friends at Amherst Early Music Festival, there was a really nice walk with friends through Central Park on my birthday, there's an eclipse coming next week, and yes, we are concentrating on the good things in our best Tralfamadorian manner.

Speaking of good things: Our first concert, Paris City Limits, Part Deux, will be presented on September 16th & 17th. After a recount on all my fingers and toes, it has been determined that *this* is our 19th season (!) and our slate of concerts and events is really unusual and cool! We start with a return to our popular Paris City Limits repertoire with several new-to-us pieces by Sermisy & Janequin & others.  The "new" Janequin (La Guerre) is fantastic! Ne manquez pas! (Not to miss!)

"Total Eclipse" aria from Handel's Oratorio Samson.

A reminder for the eclipse: Whatever you do, don't buy any weird plants. We don't want a repeat of  last time. 

Due to the recent effects of Hurricane Harvey in our region, we have decided to forego having a Fall Fundraiser this year. We believe this event is not appropriate at this time, but we do look forward to having some great fundraising events in the future! In the meantime, please keep your thoughts and prayers to our fellow Texans in the Houston area. Thank you for your support of TEMP and in spreading the love of great early music in the greater Austin area and beyond.

Please join us for our first concerts of the season on Sept. 16 & 17!  Details of the Paris City Limits concert with ticket links are below. 

Laissez les bons temps rouler!
-Danny

Paris City Limits, part deux

Saturday, September 16, 2017 at 7PM
St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, 606W, 15th Street, Austin

Sunday, September 17, 2017 at 3PM
First Presbyterian Church, 8001 Mesa Drive, Austin

Admission $30 general; $25 seniors (60+); $5 students (at the door only with valid ID)
Tickets available in advance online or by cash, check, or credit card at the door.

Take advantage of preferred seating by purchasing Season Tickets!

For more information, call 512-377-6961 and leave a message,
or email info@early-music.org.

What better place to begin our 2017-2018 Time Pieces season than in Paris? Renowned for its popular music of France from the 16th and 17th centuries, Paris City Limits regales audiences with exciting dances, popular folksongs, dazzling chansons, and heartfelt songs of love and melancholy by the masters and by some relative unknowns!

There will be lively instrumental dances by Attaignant, Breton folk music, and chansons that deal with scenes of daily life: lovesickness, marital arguments, romantic friskiness, and more. TEMP’s 20-voice chorus will perform Janequin’s spectacular musical chanson about the birds (Le chant des oyseaux), as well as his even more stunning depiction of a battle (La Guerre) complete with trumpet calls, cannon fire and the cries of victoire!

Enjoy this audio sample of Le chant des oyseaux from our Paris City Limits CD:

And this traditional Breton ton-bale (instrumental dance) from the area of Redene from our May 2016 Paris City Limits concert: 

Featured in our concert are special guest artists Mary Springfels (viola da gamba), Peter Maund (percussion), countertenor Ryland Angel (New York) and mezzo Erin Calata (Seattle), who join TEMP’s regular choir and orchestra as TEMP explores both the rustic and the sophisticated sides of Parisian and country life in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Venez, y’all!

Season Subscriptions and Single Tickets are on sale now!

Life is a subliminal suggestion, old chum

Baroque Opera is fun! Our singers and players came away from Love's Grand with new ear worms and an appreciation for a lot of music that was new-ish to them! We hope you enjoyed it also!

You know what else is fun? Chant & polyphony from the Cathedral of Notre-Dame! It may not be quite as immediately evident, but just let it wash over you and envelope you in a dessert of sound. Low-fat. Gluten free.  

Hmmm. High fat kolaches!

Somewhat less low-fat will be the kolaches that Meredith will be making during the Amplify Austin (& Amplify TEMP) fundraiser. (Get the deets below!) You'll be able to watch Meredith live-stream during the night of March 2 as she reports on the progress of TEMP's fundraising and as she reports on the progress of her newest culinary obsession! We're trying to raise some funds—$7,500— in support of our season finale concert, the 1610 Vespers by Monteverdi! It's a big ’un!

So remember: Kolaches = Amplify TEMP = Monteverdi!
And Paris! c.1200! Notre-Dame Cathedral!
-Danny

AMPLIFY TEMP!

Our goal is to raise $7,500 in support of our Monteverdi 1610 program, May 13-14. We have a LOT of new and exciting programs in store for 2017-2018 as well as the familiar ones you know and love, and we need your help to make this possible. Go to our Amplify page here to read more about it.

Here’s how you can help:

You can donate $25 (or more!) on TEMP’s page on Amplify Austin. Any Amount Helps! Here are some suggestions:

• $25–$199 Helps with office supplies and program printing 

• $200–$499 Helps cover venue rental costs 

• $500–$999 Assists with artist compensation 

• $1,000–$4,999 Assists in Director compensation 

• $5,000 + Sponsors a concert

SCHEDULE YOUR PLEDGE NOW!

You don't have to wait until March 2 to participate! You can schedule your pledge now, and it will post on March 2! Just click on the "Donate now" button on the TEMP campaign page. Be sure the little box for "This is an Amplify Austin Day Donation" is checked on the donation form.  THIS IS SUPER IMPORTANT!  If the box is not checked, the donation will process immediately and will not count towards Amplify Austin Day.

CREATE YOUR OWN CAMPAIGN PAGE!

You can also become an individual fundraiser for TEMP by creating your own campaign page on the Amplify Austin website and inviting family, friends, and colleagues to donate to your TEMP campaign. Go to the TEMP campaign page and click on "Create a Fundraising Campaign." 

BE A MEDICI - BUT NICER! AMPLIFY TEMP AND AMPLIFY AUSTIN!

Visit TEMP’s Amplify Austin page by clicking on the  button below and schedule your gift by checking the box for "This is an Amplify Austin Day Donation."

We thank you for your generous support!

Veni, Vidi, Mastercard!

Ok, we dodged the worst of a couple of viruses (physical, not virtual) that threatened to make last week even more interesting than it was going to be anyway! Whew, because I would have hated to have missed the party that Meredith put together last Saturday at Wally Workman Gallery! It was fun, a lot of folks donated (and bought) both goods and services (recorder lessons, for example) and good eats and drinks were had by all! Priceless!

View fullsize

Scott Horton & Meredith Ruduski

View fullsize

Scott Horton & Daniel Johnson

View fullsize

Scott Horton, Daniel Johnson, Cayla Cardiff, Jenifer Thyssen, & Stephanie Prewitt

View fullsize

Bruce Colson, John Walters, Scott Horton, & Daniel Johnson

Many thanks to those who came to the fundraiser and also to those who couldn't come but who made donations that were extremely helpful! Thanks! And thanks to the TEMP musicians & Board members who made it a fun late-afternoon soirée!

We're heading into preparations for the Sephardic concert (see info below!)  and the rest of the season! It's non-stop from now until May ... Calgon, anyone?

-Danny

---

Songs of the Sephardim: Love, Lament, and Loss

Saturday, October 29, 2016 at 8PM
Congregation Beth Israel, 3901 Shoal Creek Boulevard

Sunday, October 30, 2016 at 3PM
St. Martin's Lutheran Church, 606 West 15th Street

Admission $30 general; $25 seniors (60+); $5 students (at the door only)
Tickets available in advance online or by cash, check, or credit card at the door.

Take advantage of preferred seating by purchasing Season Tickets
through Oct. 28!

For more information, call 512-377-6961 and leave a message,
or email info@early-music.org.

Expelled from Iberia in 1492, the Sephardim created haunting music that reflected their longing for return to Iberia while adapting their traditions and music to their new homelands.

Sephardic music is at once beautiful and haunting, fun and poignant. TEMP’s performances of these songs of love, jealousy, loss, and comedy are one of Austin’s not-to-be-missed events. Most of us are familiar with the effects of love and its cousins, pain and jealousy, but to hear music from the last 500 years deal with this subject in simple, yet excruciating beauty, illustrates how our emotions aren’t so very different from those of the Sephardic exiles.

TEMP’s unique and creative arrangements, soulful vocal solos, and ensemble pieces explore this music, accompanied by the exotic textures of a hybrid Medieval/Middle Eastern instrumental ensemble. The program includes some favorites from the TEMP Sephardic repertoire (La serena, La rosa enflorece, Puncha, puncha, and the erotically charged song Noches, noches) and many newly-arranged songs and dances. Listen to these audio samples from our CD Night and Day: Sephardic Songs of Love and Exile:

International recorder player and world music specialist Nina Stern (New York) joins us for this concert, along with Bay Area’s Peter Maund, specialist in early and ethnic percussion. Houston’s Therese Honey (harp) joins oud player Josh Peters, Scott Horton, John Walters, Kit Robberson, Bruce Colson, and Stephanie Raby in the instrumental ensemble. Our singers are Gitanjali Mathur, Stephanie Prewitt, Jenifer Thyssen, Cayla Cardiff, Gil Zilkha, and Daniel Johnson.

From the passionate, tragic love songs to songs of fantasy and gaiety, this alluring musical genre will capture your imagination and captivate your heart.

We followed the Pathway! What's next?!

Pathways to Bach! That was fun in so many ways, not the least of which was the knowledge that we were finally back where we belong: On “stage” performing great music for you! There were several new performers in our troupe this time and they all did mighty fine. We hope to include them in future projects. And there were many new "audients" there also—and we definitely hope to see them again!

It’s almost two months until the next full concert, but we do have a small but important event on Saturday, October 1.

Come and enjoy the art and ambiance of the intimate Wally Workman Gallery with wine, light hors d'oeuvres, and a little music by TEMP artists while placing your bids on items in the silent auction. It’s on 6th Street, but it’s early enough in the evening (5pm-7pm and there’s an “away” game) that traffic will be relatively light.

I mean, yes, we’re still in Austin and it’s not 1980, but it should be great for a little outing before your evening activities! We hope to see you!

Back to work now, preparing for the Sephardic concert . . . and the Christmas concert!

-Danny

To Purchase Tickets, please visit our Fundraiser page!

Help us slay it this season!

Some call it Krokusvakantie

Happy Spring Break!

Once upon a time, a wise woman said to me, "Hey, Bub! Update your blog." She said that in the update, I should thank all the donors to our Amplify Austin campaign. (Did you know there were almost 70 donors who contributed between $10 and $500, totaling almost $6500, to TEMP? Incredible! Spectacular! Ongelooflijk!)

The wise woman (wijze vrouw) also mentioned that since our Dutch Treat concert is just around the corner, right after Easter, we should be practicing our Dutch/Flemish at every opportunity (kans), to which I said, "dat is de bedoeling" (that's the intention). 

Yep, a wise woman told me to do all that. So I did!

See you there! (Tot ziens!)
-Danny

Dutch Treat: The Golden age in the netherlands

Saturday, April 2, 2016 at 8PM
First English Lutheran Church, 3001 Whitis Avenue

Sunday, April 3, 2016 at 3PM
First Presbyterian Church, 8001 Mesa Drive

Admission $30 general; $25 seniors (60+); $5 students (at the door only)
Tickets available in advance online or by cash, check, or credit card at the door.

For more information, call 512-377-6961 and leave a message,
or email info@early-music.org.

The TEMP Eurotour continues in the Lowlands—what is now the Netherlands, Belgium, and northern France—which developed many of the foremost composers, musicians, and artists of the Renaissance and early Baroque.

The Lowlands were a scene of so many delicious things: Belgian waffles, for one, which are the summation of all things crispy, golden and delicious. But the Lowlands gave us much more than those golden delights of cuisine: They also made music that both guided and rivaled the rest of Europe in its artistry and appeal! With guests Mary Springfels (viola da gamba) and others.

From Amsterdam to Flanders and beyond, we’ll sample some of the best music from the courts and cathedrals, as well as street songs and dances that will have you tapping your toes!
Quietly. Inside your clogs. 

For more information, call 512-377-6961 and leave a message, or email info@early-music.org.

Has it already been a year? Amplify is already here!

Don't worry, though! Everyone can participate in Amplify Austin without much trouble at all! Tuesday, March 8, to Wednesday, March 9: 24 hrs, 6PM to 6PM—and the preferred time for giving to TEMP is 9:00–10:00AM Wednesday morning. Beat the rush! And, seriously, thank you for your support. We know there are many wonderful performing groups in Austin—thanks for including Texas Early Music Project in your list of groups to support! See below for instructions on how to help us get an early start on funding our next season.

Meanwhile, we are working on the upcoming concert of music by Dutch/Flemish/Franco-Flemish/Lowlands composers! So much fun! Dutch Treat: April 2 & 3. Het is zo leuk! Zulke mooie muziek!

More soon!
Danny

AMPLIFY TEMP!

Our challenge this year is twofold:

1. Funding: our goal is to raise $10,000 for the upcoming season. We have a LOT of new and exciting programs in store as well as the familiar ones you know and love, and we need your help to make this possible. Go to our Amplify page here to read more about it.

2. Social: We at TEMP have a personal goal this year: we want to reach at least 2,000 newcomers who have never heard of Texas Early Music Project. 
Here’s how you can help:

You can donate $25 (or more!) on TEMP’s page on Amplify Austin. Any Amount Helps! Here are some suggestions:

• $25-$199 can help cover program and ticket processing costs

• $200-$499 can help with travel expenses for visiting artists

• $500-$799 can provide a concert stipend for one of TEMP’s premier musicians

• $800-$1,999 can help us continue our educational outreach programs

• $2,000+ can help underwrite our 2016-2017 TEMP concert season and CD!

SCHEDULE YOUR PLEDGE NOW!

You don't have to wait until March 8 to participate! You can schedule your pledge now, and it will post on March 8! Just click on the "Donate now" button on the TEMP campaign page. Be sure to check the "Schedule for Amplify Austin Day" box on the donation form.  THIS IS SUPER IMPORTANT!  If you don't indicate this, the donation will process immediately and will not count towards Amplify Austin Day!

BONUS TIME:  9:00 AM ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, IS OUR PRIME TIME HOUR TO RAISE THE MOST MONEY OUT OF ALL THE NONPROFITS PARTICIPATING IN THIS CAMPAIGN! IF WE SUCCEED, WE GET OUR DOLLAR AMOUNT DURING THAT HOUR MATCHED BY AMPLIFY AUSTIN!

CREATE YOUR OWN CAMPAIGN PAGE!

You can also become an individual fundraiser for TEMP by creating your own campaign page on the Amplify Austin website and inviting family, friends, and colleagues to donate to your TEMP campaign. Go to the TEMP campaign page and click on "Create a Fundraising Campaign." 

BE A MEDICI - BUT NICER! AMPLIFY TEMP AND AMPLIFY AUSTIN!

Visit TEMP’s Amplify Austin page by clicking on the  button below and schedule your gift by checking the box for "Schedule for Amplify Austin Day."

We thank you for your generous support!

September Songs

It might be a long, long time from May to September, but it really whizzed by due to the Texas Toot and the Amherst Early Music Festival and preparations for ... everything! But here we are! The first concert of the season in a few days and it's a doozy, with 2 videos created Dr. Roger L. Martínez-Dávila and guest performers from the east coast and the west coast. And it's all about Coexistence. Convivencia. It's been one of the most popular of our concert themes, so every 5 years or so we re-visit old [musical] friends and add a few new.

Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015, 8:00pm (with pre-concert lecture at 7:00pm)
St. Martin's Lutheran Church, 606 W. 15th Street

Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015, 3:00pm (with pre-concert lecture at 2:00pm)
Temple Beth Shalom, 7300 Hart Lane

View fullsize

Photo by Cecily Johnson

As a little informative teaser for our Convivencia Re-Envisioned concert, our multi-talented artist and Operations Coordinator, Meredith Ruduski, has created an entertaining and educational video about two instruments that will be featured in our program: the santur and the oud. Enjoy the video below!

View fullsize

Photo by Cecily Johnson

And to take the edge off the end of August, we had a lovely fundraising party on August 30 at the Wally Workman Gallery on 6th, produced/directed/nurtured by Meredith Ruduski. It was wunderbarlichkeit, thanks to Mer, the Board, and the performers: Meredith, Jenifer, Cayla, Stephanie, Jenny, Jane, Scott, and Marshall! 

View fullsize

Photo by Cecily Johnson

Onward! Vigilance! Convivencia.
-Danny

---

Season Subscriptions and Single Tickets are on sale now!

Sumer is a-halfway done, so let's fiesta!

It's been the largest Amherst Early Music Festival ever, which means your faithful servant has been up to his neck in alligators. At least I was in cool CT instead of hot TX with the cobra. Many fantastico concerts and the opera, good lectures, good music for fun, and good friends. In other words, yo soy muy tired! Cayla Cardiff and her husband Steven Hendrickson have been here to share the fun, along with Austinites Frank Shirley and Lisa Solomon (who was a whiz in the special singing program!)

Back to Austin in a few days to finalize plans for the upcoming September concert and our season opener party, August 30. Venez, y'all!

Come and enjoy the art and ambiance of the intimate Wally Workman Art Gallery with tasty tapas from Whole Foods Market and Austin's legendary food trailer, Mmmpanadas, and wine provided by Total Wine & More while placing your bids on items in the silent auction. You'll also be serenaded by a small ensemble of TEMP's artists who will perform selections from the upcoming Postcards From The Past season! 

To purchase tickets, please visit our Fundraiser page.

And yes, I was supposed to write this little blog-ette a few weeks ago, when "Sumer Is Icumen In" would have been most opportune. Here's a link to this season-appropriate, 13th-century Middle English round. Enjoy your summer and I look forward to seeing many of you on August 30!

-Danny

Season Subscriptions and Single Tickets are on sale now!

The Groundhog was right—even in Texas!

Don't worry, though! Everyone can participate in Amplify Austin without venturing out into the cold! Thursday, March 5, to Friday, March 6—24 hrs, 6pm to 6pm—and the preferred time for giving to TEMP is 7:00–8:00 AM Friday morning. Beat the rush! And, seriously, thank you for your support. We know there are many wonderful performing groups in Austin—thanks for including Texas Early Music Project in your list of groups to support! See below for instructions on how to help us get an early start on funding our next season.

Meanwhile, back to the Fine Arts Library to get repertoire for the Monteverdi and his Students/Friends/Colleagues concert in early May!

More soon!
Danny

AMPLIFY TEMP!

Your donation to TEMP's Amplify campaign can help in many ways, but can particularly help us continue our educational programs in Austin-area schools. Donations can also help us produce a spectacular multimedia event this September: Convivencia Re-Envisioned: The Three Worlds of Renaissance Spain, featuring the breathtaking music of the three great cultures of Renaissance Spain: Judeo-Spanish (Sephardic), Arab-Andalucian (Spanish Muslim), and Christian. This transformative, multimedia event will require support beyond the usual generosity of our loyal audiences and funding through the City of Austin Cultural Arts program.

Here’s how you can help:

You can donate $25 (or more!) on TEMP’s page on Amplify Austin. Any Amount Helps! Here are some suggestions:

• $25-$199 can help cover program and ticket processing costs

• $200-$499 can help with travel expenses for visiting artists

• $500-$799 can provide a concert stipend for one of TEMP’s premier musicians

• $800-$1,999 can help us continue our educational outreach programs

• $2,000+ can help underwrite our 2015-2016 season opener,  Convivencia Re-Envisioned

Schedule Your Pledge Now!

You don't have to wait until March 5 to participate! You can schedule your pledge now, and it will post on March 5! Just click on the "Donate now" button on the TEMP campaign page. Be sure to check the "Schedule for Amplify Austin Day" box on the donation form.  THIS IS SUPER IMPORTANT!  If you don't indicated this, the donation will run immediately and will not count towards Amplify Austin Day!

Bonus Time:  7:00 AM on Friday, March 6, is our prime time hour to raise the most money out of all the nonprofits participating in this campaign! If we succeed, we get our dollar amount during that hour matched by Amplify Austin!

Create Your Own Campaign Page!

You can also become an individual fundraiser for TEMP by creating your own campaign page on the Amplify Austin website and inviting family, friends, and colleagues to donate to your TEMP campaign. Go to the TEMP campaign page and click on "Create a Fundraising Campaign." 

Be a Medici - but nicer! Amplify TEMP and Amplify Austin!

Visit TEMP’s Amplify Austin page by clicking on the  button below and schedule your gift by checking the box for "Schedule for Amplify Austin Day."

We thank you for your generous support!

TEMP's Red-Letter Day!

August 6, 2014 was a red-letter day for TEMP! We surpassed our goal of $15,890 in our Indiegogo campaign for September's season-opener,  La Pellegrina: Music for a Medici Wedding, and then we had a party at Fino's to celebrate Allison Welch and Jonathan Riemer, who got the new TEMP website operational AND beautiful --- in fact, this very website you're looking at right now!

More soon! Really!

Danny