Medieval music in performance at Vassar, November 17

The medieval music trio Trefoil, a group of singer/instrumentalists, will discuss and describe their working methods in a lecture/demonstration on Friday, November 17, at 3 p.m. in Thekla Hall (room 400) of Skinner Hall at Vassar College. Trefoil's lecture/demonstration will be followed at 8 p.m. by a performance in Skinner Recital Hall. The performance and demonstrations, both free of charge and open to the public, are sponsored by the Vassar College Music Department.

During the afternoon workshop, Trefoil will present source materials for their concert and show how they arrive at their informed performances of 14th century music. Trefoil provides a fascinating look into the Middle Ages in France, as history, social context, and source materials for the music itself are combined to create a performance.

Friday's performance will include works by Johannes Ciconia, Matheus de Perusio, Jacopo da Bologna, Baude Cordier, and Hymbert de Salinis.

The group features Marcia Young, Drew Mintner, and Mark Rimple. Young, soprano, performs and records with a number of ensembles in the New York area. She is also a medieval and renaissance harpist. Mintner is among the work's premier countertenors. Widely acknowledged for his significant performances and recordings of the operas of Handel, he has sung leading roles in and/or directed over two dozen of Handel's dramatic works and is represented on more than 40 recordings on classical music record labels. Rimple is an accomplished composer, countertenor, lutenist, and guitarist. He holds graduate degrees in musical composition, choral conducting, and guitar performance from Temple University.

Trefoil debuted in New York and Philadelphia in early 2000 with a program of 14^th century French "ars subtilior" song. Trefoil has been invited to give workshops and concerts at Boston College and Temple University, as well as a series of four holiday concerts at The Cloisters in New York City in December. For its fall programs, Trefoil will move into the Lauda repertoire of 14th century Italy, characteristically performing the pieces in a variety of vocal and instrumental formats, accompanying one another on plucked string instruments such as harp and lute.

For additional information, call the Department of Music at (845) 437-7294. Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact Cathy Jennings, office of campus activities, (845) 437-5370, as far in advance as possible to request appropriate and reasonable accommodations.

Vassar College is a highly selective, coeducational, independent, residential liberal arts college founded in 1861.

Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations or information on accessibility should contact Campus Activities Office at (845) 437-5370. Without sufficient notice, appropriate space and/or assistance may not be available.

Vassar College is a highly selective, coeducational, independent, residential liberal arts college founded in 1861.

This article was posted on Friday, November 17th, 2000.