Rhetorically Speaking: Exploring and Employing the Language of the Baroque

This workshop focuses on the performance practice of the Baroque era, seeking practical ways to incorporate the aesthetic of the time into our modern context. We will discuss the bassoon’s role as a member of the basso continuo and examine various approaches to playing bass lines, observing how our decisions influence the work as a whole. We will also explore the emerging capacity of the bassoon as a solo instrument, using Telemann’s Sonatina for Bassoon and Basso Continuo in C Minor, TWV 41:c2 as a vehicle for discussing topics such as Affekt, phrasing, beat hierarchy, and ornamentation. As this will be an interactive and participatory event, attendees are encouraged to bring their instruments. Familiarity with the sonata or with Baroque style is not required.