Festive Music
Opening fanfares are blaring, the court orchestra is intoning a minuet to the slow, noble, ceremonious and graceful steps of the opening dance, the court harpsichordist is playing improvisations as accompaniment to the meal, the festivities reach its climax with the premiere of a magnificently produced opera, and, finally, God is praised and thanked for the fabulous course and order of the festive events – naturally by playing a homage specifically composed for the occasion. This could have been the typical program of court entertainments in the Renaissance. Besides meat and drink, music has always been the most important ingredient of perfect festivities – at festivals for the common people, or at festivities of the nobility and clergy. It captures the attention of assembled guests while, at the same time, livening up the course and order of the festivities, it allows for joint activities like dancing or singing, but, above all, it is the best means to communicate the festive character of any special event – with kettledrums and trumpets, for instance! The Rheingau Musik Festival makes use of this phenomenon in its Jubilee season, the 25th Summer Full of Music, and treats itself to a programming theme of its own »Festive Music« of all kinds!
All events of »Festive Music«
12.7.2012 Händel: »Feuerwerksmusik«
16.8.2012 Händel: Dettinger Te Deum
17.8.2012 Händel: Das Alexander-Fest
18.8.2012 Nelson Freire / Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de Sao Paulo / Marin Alsop
29.8.2012 Festliche Barockmusik mit Ramón Ortega Quero
30.8.2012 Emanuel Ax / London Symphony Orchestra / Michael Tilson Thomas
