Take a musical journey back in time when Courtly Noyse brings music from the Renaissance — along with reproduction instruments of that era — to the Rancho Bernardo Library.
Seating is limited for the “Music and Sweet Fire” concert that will feature songs and dances that Shakespeare included or referenced in his plays. The lyrics touch on such themes as love, death, joy and sorrow. Free ission to adults and teens is on a first-come basis.
Krummhorn, shawm, gemshorn and viola da gamba — some of the ancestral instruments of the present-day oboe, bassoon, trombone, violin and viola — will be used during the 6 p.m. concert on Tuesday, May 27 in the RB Library’s second-floor community room, 17110 Bernardo Center Drive.
Europe’s Renaissance era occurred mostly in the 15th and 16th centuries, marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity. It began in Italy then spread throughout Europe.
While many of the Renaissance’s musical instruments are not commonly used anymore, they evolved into today’s instruments.
“The shawm is a double reed that developed into the oboe, which is quite similar,” said Laury Flora, who formed the Courtly Noyse ensemble in 2002.
“The krummhorn is a double reed similar to the oboe or bassoon of these days, but it has a cap over it so the lips do not touch the reed,” Flora said, who plays the krummhorn. “It has faded away from use, but on an organ it has a stop for the krummhorn that is still there.”
The viola da gamba is a string instrument similar to a violin or viola, but its strings are looser and made of sheep or cow gut, sometimes dubbed catgut.
“It is a soft instrument with a soft chamber, so it is not loud enough for an orchestra,” Flora said. “The strings are stronger and thicker on a violin or viola.”
As for the gemshorn, another instrument Flora plays, he said what developed out of that is today’s trombone.
“(The gemshorn) is harder to play and not as pretty or full range,” he added.
One instrument concert attendees will likely recognize is the recorder, with the original version very similar to the recorder that many elementary students learn to play today, he said.
Flora, a Valley Center resident who has been a fan of Renaissance music since performing in his high school’s Madrigal singers ensemble, said finding the right instruments and music was very challenging prior to the internet.
“One had to travel (to Europe) and go to a museum to copy (the music),” Flora said. “It was hard to read because of the music format … and had to be transcribed to modern notation. Often, it is not the full music, but just the melody.”
He said repeats and bar lines are also often missing in the original sheet music, so “a lot is left up to the player.”
Courtly Noyse member Steve Hendricks has done a lot of the research and transcribing, Flora said. Hendricks, who started his musical journey on the saxophone, plays the recorder, viola da gama, vielle, Renaissance guitar, shawm, sackbut, gemshorn, krummhorn, racket, dulcian,lute and cittern.
often have had to teach themselves how to play the various instruments because it is difficult to find instructors, Flora said.
Flora, who started by playing piano at age 5, now plays the recorder, krummhorn, rackett, psaltery, gemshorn, sacbut, lute and cornetto.
Jay Sacks, who has performed with a wide variety of groups throughout Southern California, plays the recorder, cornetto, shawm, krummhorn, chalumeau, gemshorn, cavaquihno, cornamuse and percussion.
Sandra Stram, who taught strings and recorder to public school students throughout San Diego County for 34 years, plays the viola da gamba, vielle, recorder and drummhorn.
Vickie Jenkis, a piano teacher for over 50 years, plays the recorder, cornamuse, krummhorn, harpsichord, percussion and gemshorn.
Lissette Ryan, another music teacher, plays the harp, cittern, guitar, harpsichord, recorder, crumhorn and hurdy gurdy.
All six musicians in the ensemble also sing.
For questions about the concert, call the library at 858-538-8163 or email [email protected]. The concert is presented by the Friends of the Rancho Bernardo Library, which will accept free-will donations to its concert series.
