From Oct. 20-22, the Lionel Hampton School of Music held their annual Idaho Bach Festival, featuring student and faculty solos and ensembles.
Monday night featured student performances as solos and ensembles. With pieces performed from all sorts of composers from the same era as Bach, such as Francois Devienne and his piece, “Trio No. 1 in D Major,” Arcangelo Corelli and his piece, “Trio Sonata in D Major, Op.3, No.2,” Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber and his piece, “Ciacona, IHB 6,” Georg Philipp Telemann and his piece, “Erscheine, Gott, in deinem Tempel, TWV 1:471” and Johann Sebastian Bach and his piece, “Die Kunst der Fuge, BWV 1080.”
Tuesday night featured faculty solos and ensembles, with multiple pieces written by Bach, and other composers, such as Joseph Bodin de Boismortier and his piece, “Sonata Op. 9, No. 1 and Georg Philipp Telemann and his piece, “Fantasia No. 8 in E Minor, TWV 40:9.”
Wednesday night featured the Idaho Cello Ensemble, Vandaleers and the Idaho Bach Consort, performing all sorts of pieces from Bach such as, “Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major” and “Bist du Bei Mir.” Many other composers were highlighted, including Thomas Tallis and his songs, “If Ye Love Me” and “Why Fumeth in Fight,” Henry Purcell and Clara Schumann.
Created in 2011 by director of choral studies, Michael Murphy, and now under the co-direction of cello professor Miranda Wilson and voice professors Christopher Pfund and Lynette Pfund, the Idaho Bach Festival strives to celebrate the works of Johann Sebastian Bach. This festival celebrates other composers, as well, from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
The festival allows LHSOM students, faculty and ensembles to perform music from this time period, highlighting its beauty, as well as the performers’ talents and love for music.
“It showcases early music through different ensembles and it’s always interesting because we see music today, in early music, that is where it came from after all,” said UI music student Alondra Resto.
The event allows classical music to be showcased to students and the community and allows those who have never been exposed to it a chance to learn and listen to history in the form of music.
Shelby Sandford can be reached at [email protected]