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Houston Early Music: Tapestry - Faces of a Woman

Presented by Houston Early Music at Trinity Episcopal Church

April 16, 2010

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Houston Early Music concludes their season with the all-female vocal ensemble Tapestry on April 16, 8:00 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church. The program, titled Faces of a Woman, features music by and about women and includes Medieval songs to Appalachian folk tunes. “As we are an all-woman ensemble, we wanted to celebrate both women composers and the roles women have played, from wives to daughters,” says Daniela Tosic, a Tapestry co-founder and member.

Nancy Ellis, artistic director of Houston Early Music, was eager to have Boston-based Tapestry return after their last successful show. “Their programs are both finely crafted and clever,” says Ellis. “Not only are these amazing women excellent musicians, but so much thought goes putting all the pieces together.”

Tosic describes the group effort that culminates into a new program. “We pick a theme, then all of us contribute musical selections. It takes several months before the list is whittled down to a workable program,” says Tosic. “It's a long process, but it works for us. The longer we live with the music, the more we know what it's telling us. We like to joke that with three of us there's more brain power present.”

Faces of a Woman includes the music of nun Hildegard von Bingen, a 12th-century composer key to Tapestry’s repertoire. “She was very well-known in her own time and in this time,” says Tosic. “As a late bloomer and visionary, she fits into the program well.

Tapestry is famous for spicing up their concerts with a little drama. They will perform Raihna Santa Isabel, a mini opera about Portugal's famous Queen Isabel, who performed various miracles. “We each take a role and actually act out the opera. Queen Isabel fed the poor, cared for lepers, and drove her husband quite crazy with all of her antics,” says Tosic. “We can be quite serious, so it's fun to inject a little lightness into the program.”

Anonymous motets that describe some of the options women had during Medieval times, along with music attributed to Comtessa Beatrice de Dia and Appalachian folk songs, round out the program.

Medieval fiddle player Shira Kammen, who is familiar to Houston audiences, will join Tapestry on the program. “Shira will be playing the vielle and harp,” says Tosic. “Drawing from her vast knowledge of Baroque, Renaissance and Medieval music, Shira improvises and creates instrumental accompaniment that works so well with our vocal style. She's so creative; we can unexpectedly throw things at her and she just flies with it.”

ABOUT HOUSTON EARLY MUSIC

One of the nation’s oldest early music organizations, and as the city’s only presenting organization dedicated to covering the large historical span of early music in all of its forms, Houston Early Music epitomizes a movement that has swept the world of classical music. Officially incorporated in 1969, the nonprofit provides performance opportunities for up-and-coming and major early music artists from around the world in an annual concert series. A successful and growing educational outreach program introduces a future generation to a broad range of music. Houston Early Music is funded in part by grants from the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance and by Texas Commission on the Arts and The National Endowment for the Arts.

Photo credit: Susan Wilson.