A Musical Journey Through 1725:
Tradition, Innovation, and Cultural Crossroads (Concert Program)

Step back in time to the world of 1725, a year brimming with artistic innovation and cultural exchange. This program brings together Baroque masterpieces and historical treasures that reflect the dynamic spirit of the era, from virtuosic instrumental works to expressive sacred music and early glimpses of Creole heritage. Telemann’s Les Nations anciens et modernes transports us through a cosmopolitan fusion of national styles, capturing the elegance of French dance, the brilliance of Italian virtuosity, and the energy of Eastern European folk traditions. Vivaldi’s La tempesta di mare plunges us into the heart of a raging storm, while his beloved Spring Concerto from The Four Seasons awakens the senses with its vivid depiction of nature’s renewal. Telemann’s cantata Gott will Mensch und sterblich werden brings the grandeur of Lutheran sacred music to life, while Bach’s pastoral aria Frische Schatten offers a moment of serene beauty. The program also highlights the resilience and cultural interweaving of the early 18th century with Lisette quitté la plaine, the earliest known Haitian Creole poem, set to a popular French melody. Possibly sung in colonial Louisiana’s first music school, this piece serves as a poignant reminder of the diverse voices shaping music in 1725 and beyond. Join us for a concert that bridges tradition and transformation, showcasing the artistic vitality of a pivotal year in music history.

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Wednesday, March 26, 2025
6:00 - 6:50 pm // Johnson County Public Library // Buffalo, WY // FREE

Thursday, March 27, 2024
12:15 - 12:45 pm // Lunch Together // First Congregational Church // Sheridan, WY // FREE

Friday, March 28, 2025
7:00 pm - 8:40 pm // Sheridan College // Sheridan, WY // Tickets are available here

Saturday, March 29, 2025
7:30 pm - 9:10 pm // University of Wyoming // Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts // Laramie, WY 

Sunday, March 30, 2025
4:00 pm - 5:40 pm // Casper Chamber Music Society // Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church // Casper, WY

• Georg Philipp Telmann’s Les Nations anciens et modernes reflects the Baroque fascination with national styles, blending French dance forms, Italian virtuosity, and possibly Central or Eastern European folk influences. Likely composed in the early 1720s, around the time of his appointment in Hamburg and travels outside Germany, the work showcases Telemann’s cosmopolitan approach and mastery of diverse musical idioms. By contrasting “ancient” and “modern” nations, he creates a vivid musical exploration of cultural identity, seamlessly merging tradition with innovation in a way that foreshadows the stylistic transitions of the late Baroque and early Classical periods.
• Antonio Vivaldi’s La tempesta di mare ("The Storm at Sea") is a thrilling violin concerto published in 1725 as part of Il cimento dell’armonia e dell’inventione, the same collection that includes The Four Seasons. This virtuosic work vividly depicts the turbulence of the sea through rapid passages, sweeping arpeggios, and dramatic dynamic contrasts, showcasing Vivaldi’s mastery of musical imagery. The concerto’s lively and unpredictable character captures both the fury of a storm and the calm that follows, making it a quintessential example of the Baroque fascination with nature and storytelling through music.
• Georg Philipp Telemann’s Gott will Mensch und sterblich werden (TVWV 1:634) is a sacred cantata composed in 1725, reflecting the depth and expressiveness of Lutheran church music in the Baroque era. Telemann’s masterful use of counterpoint, rich harmonic textures, and expressive melodic lines bring both reverence and emotional intensity to the piece. Written at the height of his career, this cantata exemplifies his ability to balance theological depth with musical beauty, making it a compelling work of sacred Baroque repertoire.
• Antonio Vivaldi’s Spring Concerto (La primavera), composed in 1725 as part of The Four Seasons, is one of the most beloved works of the Baroque era. This vibrant concerto captures the essence of spring through lively violin passages that depict birdsong, murmuring brooks, and gentle breezes, all vividly outlined in the accompanying poetic sonnet. The first movement bursts with joyful energy, the second evokes a peaceful pastoral scene, and the final dance-like movement portrays a lively countryside celebration. With its brilliant orchestration and evocative imagery, Spring remains a masterpiece of musical storytelling.
• Johann Sebastian Bach’s aria Frische Schatten comes from the secular cantata Zerreißet, zersprenget, zertrümmert die Gruft, BWV 205, composed in 1725. This pastoral aria, sung by Zephyrus, the god of the west wind, exudes a gentle, flowing character, evoking the cool, refreshing shade of nature. 
• ​The poem “Lisette quitté la plaine,” the oldest known Haitian Creole text, is a love story told from the perspective of an enslaved African man. He laments the loss of his beloved Lisette, sold to another plantation or sent into domestic service. The poem was written around 1757 by Duvivier de la Mahautière and the melody is a contrafact of the French song Que ne suis-je la fougère. Popular in the early 18th Century, this song may have been heard in the first school that opened in French colonial Louisiana in 1725 (Parish Church of St. Louis) which offered music classes as part of the curriculum.