ANCIENT VOICES

Our February 28 performance presents J.S. Bach‘s monumental Harpsichord Concerto in D minor, with soloist Leslie Martin. Titled “Ancient Voices,” the concert also includes one of the first well-known black composers during Mozart’s time, Joseph Bologne, also known as Chevalier de Saint-Georges. His string quartets are among the lost treasures of the classical era. “Ancient Airs and Dances” by Ottorino Respighi reimagines 16th century lute music with modern instruments and string techniques.

PROGRAM:

MUSICIANS:

Singles $15, 4-Concert Subscription $50 per household

The concert video will be available for viewing for two weeks after the concert. And season subscribers will have access to all the concerts for the duration of the season.

If tickets prices are a barrier for purchasing tickets, please email us for a discounted rate.

SOLOIST – LESLIE MARTIN, HARPSICHORD

A native of the Pacific Northwest, Leslie Martin is adjunct instructor of organ, harpsichord, and piano at Seattle Pacific University, and is a former member of the organ and harpsichord faculty of the University of Washington. He joined the faculty of the Suzuki Academy at Music Center of the Northwest in 2011, where he continues to be a dedicated piano pedagogue, employing the philosophy developed by Dr. Shinichi Suzuki, which aims to create beauty and inter-connection in the lives of young people through the art of music. His Suzuki piano studies were with master teacher, Caroline Fraser of Lima, Peru; his principal organ and harpsichord studies were with John Hamilton at the University of Oregon, from which he received Masters degrees in organ performance and choral conducting. He is a member of the Pi Kappa Lambda scholastic honor society.

Les has performed organ recitals in numerous European cities including Geneva, Uppsala, Monopoli, Martignano, Sirolo, and Rome, and has been featured at European organ festivals such as the Stagione Concertistica Internazionale d’Organo in Lecce, Italy (2001 and 2009); the Accademia Organistica Elpidiense in Sant’ Elpidio a Mare, Italy, and the prestigious Festival International de l’Orgue Ancien, in Sion, Switzerland (1995 and 2007), performing there on the world’s oldest playable organ, dating from 1435.

Locally, Les has appeared variously as guest conductor, keyboard soloist and continuo organist-harpsichordist with many Seattle-based orchestras including Philharmonia Northwest, Thalia Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Seattle, the Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, and served as the principal harpsichordist of the Northwest Chamber Orchestra.

During his career he has also held positions as organist and choirmaster for noted Episcopal and United Methodist churches in Washington, Texas, and Connecticut.

Areas of special interest include keyboard improvisation, performance practices in early music, and the study and performance of the cantatas of J. S. Bach.

Les enjoys balancing his musical activities with fly-fishing, hiking, and traveling across the Western States and Canada with his wife, Laura, and their Black Labrador Retriever, Petey, as this energetic canine pursues his squirrel-sighting adventures.