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!

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Scott Horton & Meredith Ruduski

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Scott Horton & Daniel Johnson

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

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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

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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

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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!

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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! 

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Photo by Cecily Johnson

Onward! Vigilance! Convivencia.
-Danny

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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!

Wanted: Punxsutawney Phil, for snow against humanity; By Michael Pearson, CNN

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!