The Medici Ensemble will explore chamber repertoire from the Baroque period in the second concert of the 2021-22 Taylor Johnston Early Music Series on Saturday, November 6th, at 8:00 p.m. in Fairchild Theatre. Click here for tickets and the concert program.

The Medici Ensemble will play music from France, Germany and Scotland in a “conversational style” between musicians and audience, typical of informal performances of the Baroque period. The virtuoso solo and chamber repertoire features works for recorder, baroque violin, baroque flute, harpsichord and viola da gamba, penned by Rameau, Telemann, Tobias Hume, Johann Schop and Jean-Baptiste Quentin.

The Medici Ensemble includes a veteran of the early music scene and three rising stars. Members include period instrument collector and scholar Michael Lynn, flute and recorder; Alan Choo, a Grammy-award winning violinist on baroque violin; Ruby Brallier, a sought-after performer on cello and viola da gamba; and the award-winning harpsichordist and organist Mark Edwards.

The Medici Ensemble’s visit involves a two-day residency, packed with interactive workshops for students that are also free and open to the public. Workshops include:

• Introduction to the harpsichord for pianists on Friday, November 5, at 12:30 p.m. in Cook Recital Hall
• A lecture on the historical development of the flute, complete with up to 20 antique flutes, on Friday, November 5, at 3:30 p.m. in Murray Hall
• A workshop for string players on Baroque technique on Saturday, November 6, at 10 a.m. in Eichler Hall.

The third and final performance of the Taylor Johnston Early Music Series is Aldo Abreu and Friends, Tuesday, March 29th, 7:30 p.m.  Fairchild Theatre

This series is generously sponsored by the Taylor Johnston Early Music Series Endowment established by Taylor Johnston. Dr. Johnston had been an MSU professor for 51 years and passed away in 2019. His long-time passion for music, particularly early music, led him to establish the series.

Tickets for this event and others in the series are reserved seating: $17 for adults, $15 for seniors, $7 for students and those under age 18. Tickets can be purchased online, at the College of Music box office, by calling (517) 353-5340, or in person. A $1.50 convenience fee is assessed for tickets purchased online or by phone. More information about the Taylor Johnston Early Music Series other events can be found at music.msu.edu/events.