Sunday Baroque

July 14th is Bastille Day in France – the anniversary of the storming of the bastille in 1789. This weekend Sunday Baroque will feature some of the musicians who were making music in pre-revolution France. That includes a composer who wrote a theatrical work based on Chateau Fontainebleau, where the French royalty liked to go for feasts and hunting … and a musician who wrote a loving musical tribute to the tolling bells at a Paris church dedicated to the city’s Patron Saint. It’s on Sunday Baroque this weekend.

The summer solstice is on Sunday, June 21st – so this will be the first Sunday of Summer AND Father’s Day! You’ll hear Antonio Vivaldi’s peppy SUMMER CONCERTO from the Four Seasons played by an ensemble that includes Dutch keyboard player and two of his talented children on Sunday Baroque this weekend, Sunday starting at 7 a.m. on 91.1, 107.5 and our music stream.

Every year on June 14th the United States commemorates the adoption of our flag in 1777 -- that was only a few years after the baroque era in history ended. We’re celebrating Flag Day on Sunday Baroque featuring a few top ensembles from across the US playing music from during the lifetime of our Founders.

What does it mean to be a trailblazer? A trailblazing musician can be someone who experiments with unusual techniques on a musical instrument … or maybe it’s a young woman who follows her passion for music from inside the walls of a convent in 17th century Italy. You’ll hear music by these trailblazers on Sunday Baroque this week, starting at 7 am on 91.1, 107.5 and our music stream.

You’ll hear a luminous 17th-century choral work called Eternal Light, reflective music by a composer who died in military service to his royal patron, plus stirring marches for trumpet and organ.Spend part of the holiday weekend with Sunday Baroque, Sunday morning from 7 to 1 on WSHU… 91.1, 107.5, and our music stream.

There are so many interesting and obscure holidays … did you know that May 16 is the annual celebration of “love a tree” day! Even better -- would you believe that there’s a famous baroque era aria by George Frideric Handel that is a love song … to a tree? OMBRA MAI FU is from Handel’s opera XERXES, and it’s one of the highlights on Sunday Baroque this weekend.

April is National Garden Month, and you can stop and smell the MUSICAL flowers as you stroll through a magnificent harmonic garden cultivated by musicians with particularly fertile imaginations and creativity – including some Scottish suites named after seasonal spring flowers. It’s a musical bouquet on Sunday Baroque this week.

On this Easter weekend, you’ll get to hear a joyful, extroverted Suite for two trumpets … a contemplative violin sonata for Easter … and charming Italian dances by a composer who worked for the Gonzaga family by day, and composed Hebrew language liturgical music by night. It’s on Sunday Baroque this weekend, starting at 7 a.m. on 91.1, 107.5, and our music stream.

Music is often said to have healing powers, and music by Johann Sebastian Bach seems to be a particularly effective medicine. Whether we are listening to Bach’s music, or performing it, Bach’s music is good for what ails you. You can immerse yourself in the restorative and uplifting effects of Bach’s on the Sunday Baroque Bach Birthday Bash this week, starting at 7 am on 91.1, 107.5, and our music stream.

Johann Sebastian Bach was born in March 1685 into a family of accomplished musicians. Bach had full-time jobs in music from his teenage years to the end of his life. He was one of the hardest-working musicians of his day. We’ll celebrate his genius and legacy with an all-Bach program on Part 1 of the Sunday Baroque Bach Birthday Bash this week, starting at 7 am on 91.1, 107.5 and our music stream.