Solemn Evensong begins at 7:00 p.m. Reception begins at 6:00 p.m.

The Sarasota/Manatee Chapter of the American Guild of Organists sponsors a harpsichord extravaganza featuring Virginia Bray, Linda Petersen, and Ann Stephenson-Moe; with Adam De Sorgo, oboe. Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis for St. Paul’s Cathedral by Herbert Howells.

This Evensong features harpsichord and oboe d’amore concertos performed by the talented trio of Virginia Bray, Linda Petersen, and Ann Stephenson-Moe, harpsichords, joined by oboist Adam DeSorgo.

One of the harpsichords to be played was built in 2010 by Robert Brooke of Bradenton, and is based on an instrument built by Italy’s Giacomo Ridolfi in 1682, part of the Yale Collection of Musical Instruments. This Evensong will provide a rare opportunity for listeners to enjoy a first-hand comparison in tone between the 17th Century Italian model of harpsichord and the modern French and Flemish harpsichords more commonly used.

“The Italian instruments of the time were tonally quite different from the harpsichords we are most familiar with today,” says Brooke. “With shorter strings and strung in brass throughout, their speech is more aggressive and articulate than the majority of harpsichords being built today which are mostly patterned after Flemish and French originals.”

Unusual to modern eyes, but traditional to 17thCentury Italian design, Brooke’s harpsichord is a fragile, unadorned and very thin-cased instrument contained within a more floridly decorated outer case. The inner instrument is made largely of Italian cypress, unfinished except for furniture wax. The keys are covered in the Italian tradition of naturals in European boxwood and sharps topped in ebony. The jacks, made all of wood, are of walnut and holly. The nut and bridge are also of walnut and the soundboard is made of spruce. There are two choirs of strings at 8’ pitch, normally played together. The stand and outer case, which supports also the lid, are painted and decorated in a style compatible with styles of the 17th Century.

Music will include the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in Eb Major by Peter Ayleward.

All are welcome.