Sympathy – looking beyond one’s own experience, appreciating the unfamiliar and foreign, and being open to new influences – has always been a characteristic of fine art. Composers in the 17th and 18th centuries were constantly exchanging and copying ideas as a means of developing their music. To appreciate and assimilate that which was foreign and to cultivate a so called ‘mixed taste’ was a prerequisite for musicians. To ‘pay back with interest’ what had previously been borrowed was considered the highest form of artistry.

Italy, where the style that we now call ‘Baroque’ was invented, held endless fascination during the 17^th and 18^th century. Both Bach and Handel both spent years honing their musical ability in Italy.   Henry Purcell (1659-1695) writes in the preface to his Trio Sonatas that he wanted to ‘…imitate the most famed Italian masters…’ and Sébastien de Brossard (1655-1730) states in the catalogue of his impressive collection of French Baroque that all composers at the time were wild about composing ‘… à la manière italienne’.

The Wheatland Concert Series at Shiloh Manor Farm and Professor Mark Janello have teamed up again to bring an extraordinary evening of Italian Baroque masterpieces for harpsichord and violin, featuring the violin Sonatas of Archangelo Corelli (1653-1713) and Domenico Scarlatti (1685 – 1757), among others.

Dr. Mark Janello has been a professor of music theory at the Johns Hopkins University Peabody Conservatory since 2002.  His scholarly works include “Unreasonably Melodious: The Grotesque and Bach’s Inverse Augmentation Canon” and “Beyond Completion:  Transformation and Development in Three Inventions of Bach.” Professor Janello has performed as a harpsichordist with the Baltimore Symphony, the Post-Classical Ensemble, Bach Sinfonia, and the Georgetown University Chamber Singers.  He studied music theory at Harvard and Duke Universities and University of Michigan.

Ms. Gracie Carney is a baroque violinist and founder and Artistic Director of ARTivism, an organization devoted to raising money for charitable causes through the arts.  She is an alumna of the Peabody Preparatory and the Baltimore School for the Arts,  Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, and McGill University.  Ms. Carney has performed with the world-famous Ensemble Caprice in Montréal, Indiana University Baroque Orchestra and the McGill University Baroque Orchestra.  Ms. Carney plays a period violin by Giovanni Paolo Maggini (1580-1632), on generous loan by Indiana University Distinguished Professor Emeritus Stanley Richie.

This amazing candlelit Baroque Chamber performance is paired during intermission with an authentic Italian Hunt dinner prepared by Chef Erik Nettnin Foxx.  The four course menu features northern Italian seasonal cuisine including: Arancini Tre Modi (risotto balls stuffed with Cinghiale (Wild Boar) Osso Bucco (slow cooked beef), and Coniglio Bianco (braised rabbit), followed by Saltimbocca, (veal, wrapped in prosciutto and sage and marinated in wine) Carne di cervo (seared venison, pepper crusted with juniper berries), truffle risotto, Cotechino (slow cooked pork sausage), served with grilled winter vegetables and artichoke, black garlic and red wine mustard jus.  Dinner is followed by Panzanella (Tuscan chopped salad with sunflower shoots), served with Stracciatella di Bufala con Bresaola (an amazing Italian cheese from the Foggia region, with Bresaola, an air-dried salted beef).  The meal concludes with Budino di Amaretti e Crema Pasticceria al Liquore, a traditional Italian dessert pastry filled with an amaretto (almond liqueur) custard.

Professor Janello, Chef Erik and I hope you can join us for this magical evening pairing Italian Baroque Chamber music and traditional Italian seasonal cuisine.  A presto, ciao!

Nick Donnangelo
The Wheatland Concert Series at Shiloh Manor Farm