PASTOURELLE - The Art of Machaut and the Trouvères Fortune's Wheel Sunday, March 2, 2003, 4:00 p.m. Christ Church Cathedral Map Early Conversation Lecture Series, 3:00 p.m. Robert Mealy Finding the Trouvères: An Exploration of French Culture around 1300

This "virtuosic and joyful" ensemble (The Cleveland Plain Dealer) presents an evening of delights from the springtime of Medieval France, from the birth of the trouvère tradition to the intricate music of Machaut, "the last of the trouvères." Intimate monophony and splendid polyphony are interlaced with exhilarating instrumental dance music to bring to life the rich tapestry of 14th century France. Fortune's Wheel website www.fortuneswheel.org

Lydia Heather Knutson & guest artist, Eric Mentzel, voice

Shira Kammen & Robert Mealy, vielle, harp, voice

Houston Early Music is pleased to present Fortune’s Wheel in "Pastourelle – The Springtime Art of Machaut and the Trouvères. This "virtuosic and joyful" ensemble (The Cleveland Plain Dealer) will perform a program of delights from the springtime of Medieval France, from the birth of the trouvère tradition to the intricate music of Guillaume de Machaut, "the last of the trouvères". Intimate monophony and splendid polyphony are interlaced with exhilarating instrumental dance music to bring to life the rich tapestry of 14^th -century France.

Fortune's Wheel is a spirited collaboration of four distinguished performers devoted to rediscovering the riches of Medieval musical traditions. Popular with critics and audiences alike "Fortune’s Wheel takes its medieval music seriously then transforms [it]...into living, breathing art." (Cleveland Plain Dealer) Described as "exemplary performers whose musical instincts seem to be so right in everything they do..." (San Diego Reader), their performances combine a meticulous attention to vocal sonority and instrumental virtuosity with an engaging sense of theater and improvisation. "Their enjoyment of the music and the pleasure they took in each other’s company was contagious." (Boston Globe) They have been featured at the Amherst and Boston Early Music Festivals and by early music series throughout America as well as appearances in Mexico City and Regensburg Germany. Veterans of over 100 early music CDs, their first CD together, Pastourelle, is now available on the Dorian label.

Prior to the concert, at 3:00 p.m., Fortune’s Wheel member, Robert Mealy will present a lecture-demonstration entitled Finding the Trouvères: An Exploration of French Culture Around 1300.

Tickets are $25 general admission, $20 for seniors and students, and may be purchased at the door or by calling 713.432.1744. There will be no charge for children 12 years and under.

PROGRAM

Desouz l'olive (carole) Anonymous

Fontis (based on las Huelgas melodies) arr. S. Kammen

Volez-vous que je vous chant (reverdie)

Lis dous regars (rondeau) Adam da la Halle (c1245-c1288)

Compaignon, je sai tel cose Gace Brulé (c1160-c1213)

Tant con je vivrai (rondeau) Adam de la Halle

Doucement mi reconforte (motet) Anonymous

Je muir (rondeau) Adam de la Halle

Lai de la Pastourelle (instrumental lai) Anonymous

Bele doette (chanson de toile) Anonymous

Or est baiars en la pasture (rondeau) Adam de la Halle

Souvent sospire (vocal estampie) Anonymous

INTERVAL

Je vivroie liement (monophonic virelai) Guillaume de Machaut

Sans cuer (two-part rondeau) (c. 1300-1377)

Moult sui/Se mesdisans

(instrumental, one- and two-part virelais)

De Fortune (three-part ballade)

Quant je sui mis (monophonic virelai)

Comment qu'a moy/Vostre doulz viaire/

Puis que ma dolour (monophonic virelais)

Aye me! dame de valour (monophonic virelai)

Douce dame jolie (monophonic virelai)

This concert is made possible in part by a grant from the City of Houston and Harris County through the Cultural Arts Council of Houston and Harris County