Birds in baroque music are the theme of the new project by recorder player Stefan Temmingh and his baroque ensemble, "The Gentleman's Band” with soprano Dorothee Mields. This programme is very close to the hearts of both soloists: Dorothee Mields adores birds and Stefan Temmingh's home country South Africa is famous for its colourful bird species. In baroque music, birds are very popular and are used in lots of repertoires by composers such as Vivaldi, Handel, van Eyck, Keiser, and Torri.  

There are many different birds to listen to, such as the nightingale, cuckoo, chickens, doves, and several others. Sometimes they are virtuosic and exuberant or witty and excited. Other times, they could be intimate and touching. Of course, this project is about more than just reproducing bird sounds. Oftentimes love and spring are more or less obvious topics. For centuries, people have associated different birds with specific emotions. Every species has its own symbolism. For example, the nightingale stands for the beauty of love while the cuckoo stands for betrayal. 

 

 

Stefan Temmingh is part of the young generation of world-class recorder players. Born in Cape Town, he comes from a Dutch-South-African family of musicians and now lives in Munich.

As an Early Music specialist, he plays internationally with his baroque ensemble at renowned festivals and concert series. As a soloist, he plays with various baroque, chamber and symphony orchestras in Europe, Asia and Africa. He also initiates and participates in numerous projects and premieres of contemporary music.

 

Dorothee Mields is one of the leading interpreters of 17th and 18th century music and is beloved by audiences and critics alike for her unique timbre and moving interpretations. Her flawless technique and the ethereal clarity of her voice also make her ideally suited for works by contemporary composers.

 

Recorder: Stefan Temmingh

Soprano: Dorothee Mields

The Gentleman's Band

 

Pietro Torri
I am a Nightingale for soprano, recorder and BC

 

Antonio Vivaldi
Le Printemps de Vivaldi: Largo Spring by Vivaldi: Largo Arranged for flute solo by Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)

 

Mr Quignard Printemps: Tendrement from 9e Recueil d’airs sérieux et à boire (1749)
Spring: Affectionately from 9th volume of Arias and Drinking Songs or soprano, recorder and BC

 

Thomas Augustine Arne
The Cuckoo from As you like it for soprano and BC

 

Johann Heinrich Schmelzer
Sonata Cucù for recorder and BC

Matthew Locke
Pavane from the suite No. 3 D minor /major for recorder and BC

 

Anon
The Three Ravens from Melismata

 

Georg Friedrich Händel
Sweet Bird from L’Allegro, il Penserosoed il Penseroso ed il Moderato HWV 55 ，The Cheerful, the Thoughtful,and the Moderate Man

- Intermission -

 

Anon
This merry pleasant spring

 

Georg Philipp Telemann
Fantasie No. 12 for recorder solo

 

Reinhard Keiser Du angenehme Nachtigall from Ulysses

You pleasant nightingale for soprano, 2 recorders and BC

 

Imitatione del medesimo Uccello from Rossignolo
Imitation of the same bird (i.e. the nightingale) from Nightingale for harpsichord solo

 

Jakob van Eyck Engels Nachtegaeltje from Der Fluten Lust-hof
English Nightingale from The Flute's Garden of Delights for recorder solo

 

John Bartlet
Sweet birds deprive us never from A Book of Ayres (1606) for soprano, viola da gamba and BC

The first part
The second part
The third part

Giuseppe Fedeli
Warbling the birds enjoying from The Temple of Love for soprano, recorder and BC Largo-Adagio-Largo-Allegro-Vivace-Adagio-Allegro-Slow