Restoration Theater (in brief)
In 1660, Charles II was crowned King of England. The country had been in a political and parliamentary dictatorship for many years, and had now been restored. Hence, a new chapter in English history called the Restoration. It wasn’t just the restoration of the monarchy, however, but the return of a culture that had been shut down during the dictatorship, such as public theaters.
With theaters open for business, once again, plays were performed for a welcoming public and many new ones written to satisfy demand. Audiences enjoyed the intriguing possibilities that came with a new play, with its multiple plots and its stock characters, including ones that were disordered—witches, melancholics, and the insane.
Witches held a special place in the imagination of the English theatergoer. Witches and witchcraft had the power to remove balance from life and cause chaos. They were often depicted with familiars, or creatures they were typically associated with—the cat, owl, bat, or frog. Witches were also portrayed in numbers.
Mad Bess and her rant
Another disordered character from Restoration theater was the person who went mad after being rejected by a lover. These characters were some of the most colorful and titillating— madness brought unpredictability. One of the most famous depictions of madness was in Henry Purcell’s song “From silent shades,” also known as Bess of Bedlam or Mad Bess.
Duo Recital: Ingrid and Byron Return
Violinist Ingrid Matthews and harpsichordist Byron Schenkman have been performing as duo for many years. Not long ago, they gave a recital in Seattle, Washington, that marked their return to the stage after the brief hiatus. Presented by the Early Music Guild and the Seattle Baroque Orchestra, they performed music by a number of composers they are known for, including J.S. Bach, Corelli, Leclair, and others. Both also took solo turns, giving each other the spotlight. One of Byron’s solos was a suite entitled “Euterpe” from J.C.F. Fischer’s “Musical Parnassus.”
The program ended with a violin sonata by baroque composer Francesco Maria Veracini. A contemporary of Vivaldi, Veracini was one of the more well-known Italian violin virtuosos and composers of his day, a reputation made not only from his excellent playing, but from several sets of violin sonatas which he published.
The baryton (not baritone)
Our featured release highlights the baryton, an instrument similar to a viola da gamba. The baryton has six or seven strings that are bowed, plus forty more that meant to vibrate sympathetically and sometimes plucked with the thumb. Needless to say, it’s difficult to play and not often heard in concert. Joseph Haydn is the most famous composer to write music for it.
The Esterházy Machine has released volume one in a series to record all of Haydn’s baryton divertimenti. The ensemble is made up of Dann, viola, Kenneth Slowik, baryton, and cellist Myron Lutzke. The recording comes to us from the Smithsonian Friends of Music label.
