DAYTON, OH (January 11, 2011) – The Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra’s Principal String Quartet and conductor Neal Gittleman will present Johann Sebastian Bach’s A Musical Offering in a special chamber music performance on Thursday, January 20, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. in the NCR Renaissance Auditorium of the Dayton Art Institute.
A Musical Offering is a collection of canons, fugues and other pieces of music by Johann Sebastian Bach, all based on a single theme given to him by Frederick the Great in May of 1747. Two months later, Bach published this extraordinary work of music and dedicated it to the king. Bach inscribed the work with the words Regis Iussu Cantio Et Reliqua Canonica Arte Resoluta (loosely translated as “the theme given by the king, with additions, resolved in the canonic style”), the first letters of which spell out the word ricercar, a well-known musical genre of the time. Two ricercars, one in three parts, the other in six, are included within the complete work.
The January 20 performance will mark the DPO’s first performances at the Dayton Art Institute since its 75th Anniversary concert in June 2008. Bach’s music, polyphonically complex yet intimate, is well suited to the salon-like atmosphere of DAI’s NCR Renaissance Auditorium.
Members of the DPO’s Principal String Quartet are Jessica Hung, violin; Kirstin Greenlaw, violin; Sheridan Currie, viola; and Andra Padrichelli, cello. Joining them for the Musical Offering performance will be other members of the DPO including Joshua Nemith, keyboard and Rebecca Tryon Andres, flute.
Tickets for the January 20 concert are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors, and $10 for students and are available by calling (888) 228-3630 or by ordering on the web at www.daytonphilharmonic.com.