Renaissance music in a 21st Century Gothic Chapel at Agnes Scott

Agnes Scott College dedicated the Julia Thompson Smith Chapel in 2008. It was time to see and hear it in action.


I'm a lucky guy I tell you. Saturday at the last minute I headed to Agnes Scott to hear early music for free: "Sole, Luna, e Stelle; Music from the Time of Galileo." Advice to self: "Just go!"

Here are the performers: "Muses' Delight" from Ashville (Gesa Kordes, violin; Barbara Weiss, harpsichord Gail Ann Schroeder, viola da gamba) with guest artists from Atlanta Francisca Vanherle, soprano and Paula Fagerberg, Baroque triple harp.

Galileo himself may have heard these works 400 years ago. Did he get as emotional as I did?

My eyes and ears had all they could handle. Smith Chapel soars but remains cozy and comfortable. The scissors patterned window seems in motion. My eyes danced in every direction. The curves, apexes, and thrusts repeated everywhere. I couldn't take it all in.


Perfect acoustics? I don't know. Could any music have sounded better to me that night? The musicians certainly seemed happy with the sound.

Gail Ann Schroeder, viola da gamba and Francisca Vanherle, Soprano.

After the show we toured the harpsichord and triple harp.


Had a look at the rare Brombaugh Opus 31d organ in the balcony. I'd like to hear it some day.


The narthex is stunning and comfortable for men wearing kilts.


Barbara Weiss let us noodle on her beautiful 25 year old, 70 pound harpsichord.


Thanks to Gail Ann Schroeder, viola-da-gamba and Gesa Kordes-violin.


Thanks again to Gail Ann Schroeder and Francisca Vanherle soprano (right).







Thanks,
Terry
terry @ surf303.com