McDonald-Bianculli Flute & Guitar Duo

Timeless Valentine Tales - Love, Longing & Triumph in the French Cantata

2011-01-28T07:03:00.000-08:00

John Lennon - A Remembrance

2010-12-08T08:45:00.000-08:00

It was middle to late afternoon on one of those chilly, uncomforting days that is every December 8th in New York City. I am guessing it is around 1986, a short 6 years after the shooting across the street at the Dakota. Lit by the directional light of a winter sun, my wife and I took our now annual stroll through Strawberry Fields in Central Park. We sat in the benches near where the pavement says, “Imagine!” And we did.

It was quiet. We noticed a film crew moving from bench to bench, carrying both equipment and questions to the occupants. When they reached us, they were polite and quiet too, aware that they might be disturbing our meditation. The crew was from Japan and the woman holding the microphone asked if we might answer some questions for Japanese TV.

At first, she asked me how John Lennon affected my life. Where should I start? I am a musician, a classical guitarist, whose life was forever changed by the Beatle’s appearance on the Ed Sullivan show in February 1964. I had just turned 13 years old. I would begin talking about what that was like, seeing them perform for the first time. A welling up of emotions obscured my thoughts and eventually my words. Very sensitively, they allowed me to ramble on for quite a while.

Soon the woman with the mic turned to my wife with another question about John and his influence. Also a musician, a flutist, she delivered a much more eloquent response than I could have ever provided. I cannot remember exactly what she said but I remember being moved by her response. They thanked us and walked away. We thought how cool it was that we might wind up a 4 second sound byte on Japanese TV. I pessimistically thought to myself that we would both end up on the cutting room floor. They were still shooting film, after all.

So, years pass as they do. My wife and I continued to play concerts, gigs. My teaching picks up. I am now at the United Nations International School in New York City and it is around 1992. On the first day of classes, private guitar lessons, a young boy, no more than 15 years old walks into my studio. He is Japanese and has very little knowledge of English. As usual, music allows us to communicate quite well and our first lesson goes off well. I had noticed him staring at me and thought he was trying to read my face to see how I felt about him.

At the end of the lesson, as he was leaving, he turned to me and pointed. He said, “You, John Lennon!” “Strawberry Fields”. I could not figure out what he was trying to say. I look nothing like John Lennon and thought to myself that maybe he wanted me to teach him to play the song “Strawberry Fields”. How could I do this? He was a beginner. Finally, he put up his hand and said goodbye, repeating once again, “You, John Lennon, video.” I must have looked quite puzzled.

It turned out that this 15 year old boy from Tokyo was a collector of everything Beatles. Magazines, photos, recordings and yes, even video recorded off the home TV. The next week he arrived carrying a VCR tape cartridge that looked like it had been recorded over at least 100 times. No title, just the tape. He handed it to me and implored me to watch it at home.

There we were, my wife and I, thirty-somethings, still full of innocence and expectations about life (nothing much has changed!), sitting on the bench, talking about John and the Beatle’s and how they were responsible for the musicians that we had become. I still remembered my emotional response, hands flailing as I tried to communicate my thoughts, and Kathy’s calm and clarity in expressing hers.

We met John in NYC that day. We try and meet up with him each Dec. 8th in the park where we sing songs with kids too young to remember that the Beatle’s weren’t always on iTunes. I think of my Japanese student and hope that I have helped him put music into his life as John and the boys from Liverpool did for us.
-Pat Bianculli

Concerts are a Success!! Some photos.....

2010-12-05T17:26:00.000-08:00

These photos were taken during the dress rehearsal before Baroque Across the RIver's performance at TENRI on W. 13th St in New York City.

BaroQue Across the River - Elegance and Extravagance

2010-11-20T16:39:00.000-08:00

Brooklyn, New York-based early music ensemble BaroQue Across the River will perform “Elegance & Extravagance: Cantatas and Solos from France & Italy” on December 3-4, 2010 in New York City. The December 3 concert will be held at 7:30pm at Brooklyn Friends Meeting House, 110 Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn (718.643.4608); The December 4, 8:00pm concert will be held at Tenri Cultural Institute, 43A West 13th Street, in Manhattan (914.633.0758). Tickets are $20.00 (suggested donation) at door for both concerts.

Two rival styles dominated European music in the late 17th – early 18th Century — the delicate and demure French style favored elegant melodies in contrast to the more passionate, virtuosic and extravagant style of Italian music. In “Elegance & Extravagance: Cantatas and Solos from France & Italy” BaroQue Across the River offers selections of this exuberant contrast with music by Rameau, Clérambault, Scarlatti, Couperin, and Vivaldi.
(Thanks to Peter McDowell Arts for help with this post.)

Our CD featured in podcast devoted to knitting in Australia

2010-11-20T16:02:00.000-08:00

My most recent search on the internet revealed that our CD is indeed being played. Go take a listen. You might even learn to knit while you are at it!!!

http://podcast.mbirgin.com/3303/sticksstringpodcast.aspx#divPlayer
David, who runs a knitting show in Australia used a cut from our CD in one of his broadcasts. It is show 133. Jump to 14:00 into the broadcast. We are grateful to hear our music being used.

Baroque Across the River Celebrates the Dutch in "Breukelein"

2009-09-27T12:56:00.000-07:00

On November 15, 2009 3:00pm, Kathy McDonald and her early music ensemble will perform in conjunction with the renowned exhibit, "Pages of the Past" at the Brooklyn Historical Society.

The ensemble is featured as part of the Historical Society's “5 Dutch Days, 5 Boroughs”. Join them for a journey through New France and New Netherlands with 2 French cantatas and music from the Dutch Baroque! Composers include Monteclair, Campra, Locatelli and Huygens.

For more information click here: http://www.brooklynhistory.org

128 Pierrepont Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 718.222.4111 Ext. 250

Quebec Festival

2009-07-23T14:29:00.000-07:00

Ahh....We are almost there. Here is the final concert poster for the festival. In case you haven't seen it about 100 times already. :-)
Enjoy!!

Come and Enjoy:

1) Sing in the Community Chorus

2) Play in the baroque string ensemble

3) Study Guitar, Flute, Voice and Violin

4) Enjoy the natural surroundings (Lake St. Francois & Parc Frontenac)

5) Enjoy gourmet meals at Auberge Andromede

6) Get the best maple syrup (I hear its even good on popcorn)

7) Listen to some of the finest performers from New York and Quebec.

Visit the website: http://www.midsummermusiquebec.com/

First Review online - Classical.net by Raymond Tuttle

2009-06-24T07:11:00.001-07:00

Hill Of Slane

Psalms, Sonatas & Sojourns
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach: Hamburg Sonata in G Major, Wq 133
Johann Sebastian Bach: Flute Sonata in E minor, BWV 1034
Arlo McKinnon, Jr.: Hill of Slane
Frederic Hand: A Psalm of Thanksgiving
Carlo Domeniconi: Sonata, Op. 37
Richard Charlton: Sonata?
McDonald-Bianculli Flute & Guitar Duo CDBaby 305125 DDD 60:55
The flute and the guitar go well together. So, it appears, do flutist Kathleen McDonald and guitarist Pasquale ("Pat") Bianculli, who have been making music together since 1977, but only now have gotten around to making a recording. Yes, they are married, and judging by the performances on this CD, they must communicate well – one of the essential ingredients of a successful marriage!
This disc comfortably straddles the classical and folk worlds. Before I am accused of being misleading, however, I most point out that the works by McKinnon and Hand are original works, and do not even quote from traditional melodies, so if they are "folky," they are only so stylistically, and not in the literal sense of the word. Hill of Slane is where Saint Patrick "lit the first Paschal fire in direct defiance of the pagan kings at nearby Tara." Hand's A Psalm of Thanksgiving is an extended meditation on the text of Psalm 100, both reflective and joyful. Both works are written in a simple, communicative style, whose messages of faith, comfort, and gentle determination are delivered with quiet force. Both works feature extended passages in which either the guitar or the flute plays by itself. It's not a lonely sound, though, but one of independence and confidence.
Domeniconi's Sonata betrays a lively interest in music from many parts of the globe. His intricate writing leaves the listener guessing, as flute and guitar good-naturedly jockey for position, and unexpected rhythms and melodic turns quickly sail past his or her ears. The unusual title of Australian composer Richard Charlton's Sonata? is explained by the composer's desire to avoid pre-conceived notions about what a sonata should and shouldn't be. In other words, it's not a joke piece, but a sometimes rhapsodic, sometimes tightly structured, and always generous (melodically speaking) work in three movements.
The works by Bach – the famous one, and his second surviving son – need little introduction, except to say that Carl Philipp Emanuel's so-called "Hamburg" sonata is named after the city in which it was composed, not after what the composer was eating at the time. Both of the works are performed with continuo (usually harpsichord plus cello or gamba), but the guitar works well too.
McDonald and Bianculli play the two works by Bach straightforwardly, emphasizing beauty of sound over individuality. These are not the most personal readings, but there's no denying that they are lovely, and not at all unstylish. They are a practical definition of "galant." More of who these performers are comes out in the remainder of this program. They are dedicated, polished musicians, with a will to communicate, not just with their listeners, but with each other. In its own modest way, this is a "feel good" CD – perfect at the end of a trying day. The engineering is excellent in its warmth and realism, and even the booklet notes have been given unusual attention.
This CD is available from cdbaby.com, where it also is offered as an MP3 download.
Copyright © 2009, Raymond Tuttle.

http://www.classical.net/music/recs/reviews/c/cdb05125a.php

Midsummer Music Dream Aug. 3-10 Courcelles Quebec CA

2009-06-22T09:02:00.001-07:00

Concert: Our Brooklyn Return!

2009-04-28T05:54:00.000-07:00

Please join us for a concert in our hometown of Brooklyn Heights. It will be held at Zion German Evangelical Lutheran Church on Henry Street. The date is Sunday, May 17, 2009 at 3:00PM. Admission is $10 for admission to the concert only and for $20 you receive a copy of the new CD. FOR MORE INFORMATION EMAIL US AT kathymcdonald1@aol.com or 718 643-4608
Hope you can join us.

Concert at the Brooklyn Historical Society

2009-02-17T06:09:00.000-08:00

Sunday, March 22, 2:00 – 5:00 PM
BaroQue Across the River Chamber Music Concert with Wine and Cheese Tasting

Founded in 2000 by flutist Kathy McDonald, BaroQue Across the River is a chamber music concert series based in Brooklyn performing on original instruments in historical settings. This will mark the group’s fourth concert at BHS!

Alan Kozinn of the New York Times recently reported “BaroQue Across the River opened the concert with two elegant French cantatas — Rameau’s “Impatience” and Montéclair’s “Ariane et Bacchus” — to which Michèle Eaton brought a sumptuous tone, a keen dramatic sense and striking agility in the ornamental vocal scoring…” September 30, 2008.

The mostly-British program includes works by: Purcell, Stanley, Pepusch and John Loillet of London.

Concert Tickets $25 members, $30 non-members. Seating is limited. Tickets include wine and pastry tasting. Special thanks to Michael Towne Wine & Spirits and to Lassen & Hennigs for their support of the event.

Our Quebec Festival

2009-01-18T12:47:00.000-08:00

I have started to update the web site...finally. This unfortunately has to be done whenever there is a break in teaching and concerts. So, while the site is incomplete it does have numerous updates.

This year we have returning faculty performers, Beverly Au, Jerome Ducharme, Valerie Belanger, Dale Stuckenbruck, Barbara Fusco-Spero, and James Erikson. New this year will be Lex Dashnaw, leading a community choir and Dale's "Kammermusik" baroque string ensemble.

Save the link and check back regularly. Hope that some of you can be with us!!
www.midsummermusiquebec.com

GALA POST HOLIDAY CONCERT- Baroque Across the River Participates

2009-01-01T06:27:00.000-08:00

Start the year off with an amazing Early Music concert. Here is the information:
SUNDAY, January 4, 2009 at 3PM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WHO: Gala Post-Holiday Concert! (Adesso Early Music, Alta Wind Band, Anime Barq., ARTEK, Baroque Across the River, Bklyn Barq., Callisto Ascending, Ens. Breve, Ens. Viscera, Glissando Duo, Infiorare, My Lord Chamberlain's Consort, NY Continuo Collective, Parthenia, Sinfonia Praetorius)
WHAT: Gala Multi-Group Post-Holiday Concert - Over 60 musicians and 15 ensembles performing in a Gala concert of early music. Each ensemble will perform a short selection in addition to large group opening and closing pieces.
WHERE: Immanuel Lutheran Church, 122 East 88th St. at Lexington Ave., New York, NY
PRESENTED BY: Immanuel Lutheran Church, ARTEK, Gotham Early Music Scene
ADMISSION: Free; Donations accepted
CONTACT: www.midtownconcerts.org
WEB: http://www.gemsny.org

Thanks to our friend, Michael Sanita, at Polyphony.com (www.polyphony.com) who keeps a list of the best concerts in Early Music held each month in New York City. He does all of us a great service in furthering the cause of Early Music. Thanks, Michael.

Wishing All a Happy Holiday Season

2008-12-21T12:45:00.000-08:00

From us to you....Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Happy Kwanzaa, and Happy New Year! from the McDonald-Bianculli Duo

November 26 BaroQue Across the River @ St. Bart's (Park&51st St.)- The Joys of Coffee

2008-11-23T06:40:00.000-08:00

The Joys of Coffee

18th-century coffee houses were the hub of news and inevitably a place where new ideas were formed. BaroQue Across the River offers a coffee break with a well-known favorite aria from J. S. Bach's "Coffee Cantata" (BWV 211) as well as the delightful lesser-known cantata "Le CafÈ" by Nicolas Bernier.

BaroQue Across The River, now in its eighth season, presents concerts on original instruments in historical settings. Engaging New Yorkís finest early music performers, B.A.R. has brought concerts to Brooklynís historic Borough Hall, the Brooklyn Historical Society, Wyckoff House Museum, Akwaaba Mansion, Lefferts House, Zion German Lutheran Church, The Society for Ethical Culture, the Stevenson Academy of Fine Arts and the Bruce Museum in Greenwhich, CT. In 2007-08, BAR Concerts included a summer festival in Quebec, Canada and a concert for ìMusic on the Heightsî series at the historic Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims in Brooklyn, NY.

For more information: November 26, 2008 1:15 pm "Midtown Concerts" St. Bartholomew's (Park Ave, & 51st Street NYC)For more information: http://www.midtownconcerts.org/html/november_2008.html

Heights Music Masters Record Graceful Album In First CD Collaboration

2008-10-01T18:25:00.000-07:00

Howe’s Brooklyn
Heights Music Masters Record Graceful Album In First CD Collaboration
by Brooklyn Eagle (edit@brooklyneagle.net), published online 10-01-2008
By Sam Howe & Friends

BROOKLYN HEIGHTS HUSBAND and wife team KATHY McDONALD and PASQUALE BIANCULLI have been making music together since 1977 when they met as students at SUNY Stony Brook. With McDonald playing flute and Bianculli guitar, they have toured throughout North America, Europe and the Caribbean, started a music festival, directed a Brooklyn ensemble, and taught their trade. Now, after 24 years of marriage, the duo has paired their mastery of technique and sensitivity to record their first album together — “Hill of Slane: Psalms, Sonatas & Sojourns.”
The cleanly and masterfully produced album has both Brooklyn and Ireland at heart. Bianculli was born and raised in Greenpoint and two of the six composers, FREDERIC HAND and ARLO McKINNON JR., are Brooklynites. McDonald has lived much of her life in the borough, and the album was recorded and produced with support from another local, JOHN KILGORE, to whose generosity and flexibility with his studio the couple attribute much of their success.

Read the Full Article

BaroQue Across the River- a hit at the GEMS Festival

2008-09-29T17:42:00.000-07:00

from the NY TIMES...September 30, 2008 - BaroQue Across the River, a Brooklyn group, opened the concert with two elegant French cantatas — Rameau’s “Impatience” and Montéclair’s “Ariane et Bacchus” — to which Michèle Eaton brought a sumptuous tone, a keen dramatic sense and striking agility in the ornamental vocal scoring.

Kathy McDonald contributed the appealing flute obbligato in the Montéclair, and Arthur Haas, harpsichordist, and Martha McGaughey, on viola da gamba, kept the continuo parts lively and vital.

Congratulations to Kathy, Michèle, Arthur and Martha for a job well done. It was a beautiful concert and the praise was well-deserved. Suzanne Bona, the host of "Sunday Baroque", (seen here with Kathy) emceed the event and did the unimaginable - she was able to get classical musicians to talk about what they do in an intelligent and meaningful fashion!! No small feat, Suzanne!! Thanks to Ron Hatem for the great photos.

READ THE FULL REVIEW

HILL OF SLANE CD Released!!!

2008-09-16T05:52:00.000-07:00

Our new CD has been released. It is available through CD BABY which will market the CD for us. They will also post it for Digital Distribution, so you can download one piece or the entire CD. You will also be able to buy at concerts.

The CD comes with a booklet along with photos by myself and Richard Sutor. It was recorded by John Kilgore and mastered by Richard Price.

We look forward to reading your comments and knowing what you think about our music.

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 10, 2008

The McDonald-Bianculli Flute & Guitar Duo release Hill of Slane – Psalms, Sonatas & Sojourns

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK – Kathleen McDonald and Pasquale Bianculli have released a CD of music for flute and guitar. It is called Hill of Slane - Psalms, Sonatas & Sojourns and features the music of J.S. Bach, C.P.E. Bach, as well as contemporary composers Carlo Domeniconi, Frederic Hand, Arlo McKinnon, Jr., and Richard Charlton. The Hill of Slane is the legendary place in County Meath, Ireland (about 35 Miles NW of Dublin) where St. Patrick was to have lit the first Paschal Fire in the year A.D. 433.  The “Hill” was a spiritual inspiration for composer, Arlo McKinnon, who contributed the title track.

The other works on this CD collection include J.S. Bach’s Sonata in E minor BWV 1034, played on baroque flute and modern guitar, Sonata in G Major “Hamburg”, by C.P.E. Bach, Sonata, op 37, composed in 1996 by Carlo Domeniconi, Frederic Hand’s Psalm of Thanksgiving (1995), and the first commercial recording of Sonata? by Richard Charlton.

Pat and Kathy, long-time musical collaborators, have been married for 24 years. This is their first recording together. Music has taken them to Curaçao (International Trade Center), Rotterdam (De Douelen) as well as Paris, Quèbec, British Columbia, Italy and Jamaica. Kathy specializes in baroque flute and directs her own ensemble in Brooklyn, NY, Baroque Across the River. Besides C.W. Post, Pat also teaches privately and at the United Nations International School. The CD was recorded in New York at Kilgore Sound and Recording by John Kilgore and mastered at Candlewood Digital LLC by Richard Price.

Hill of Slane is now available from CD BABY (www.cdbaby.com), and soon it can be digitally downloaded from iTunes (www.iTunes.com).

BaroQue Across the River presents: Pro Musica Antiqua Oslo

2008-09-07T09:13:00.000-07:00

THANK YOU - MERCI “A Midsummer Music Dream/ Songe d’été en musique”

2008-08-16T18:24:00.001-07:00

To all of you!! Thanks for making our 3rd year so successful. The concerts were terrific and we all had a wonderful time. Though the weather didn't cooperate (it rained for a week!), it didn't dampen the spirit of what makes this event so special for us.

Plans are already underway for next year. There are possibilities we will have a baroque string camp as well as a community chorus. We are growing, but not too big!!!

From Kathy, Pat and Harris, we want to thank all the people who make it possible for us to do this:

First, a very special thank you to Pauline Jobin of Moulin Bernier. Pauline is our tireless team leader who feeds us her ideas, vision and passion for the arts. We could not function without her! Merci Pauline!!

Thank you Karen Davis, Nina & Dave Krebs, Saskia Witté, Tom Heneghan & Elisabeth Auvillain and Anne Dubé.

Also,

for Lambton: Pierrette Marseau

for St-Honoré: Jacqueline Ferland

for La Guadeloupe: Mike Roy

for Lac-Drolet: Michel Fortin

Thanks also to Claude and Cécile Goulet for their hospitality as well as Pierre Étienne Bizier and Renée Mathieu. All the folks in the venues that we play, Lambton, Lac-Drolet, La Guadeloupe, St-Honoré and of course, Courcelles. Thanks to Gina and Gilles at Auberge Andromède for always making us feel welcome; to Florendo and Pascale at the Casa Deli who keep their wonderful restaurant open all hours for us for post concert dining. Also, a very special thanks to our dear friend Gervais Lapointe. Gervais helps us with so many things, most notably translations and helping always to see that we have all that we need.

Finally, thanks to our wonderful performers this year, Barbara Fusco, Valérie Bélanger, Dale Stuckenbruck, Laura Lessard, Kenta & Kota Nomura, Roxanne & Katherine Bilodeau. Special thanks to Jérôme Ducharme for his wonderful concert and participation in our last event. Jérôme, I still cannot believe you drove back from Montreal to be with us again. You were terrific!!

Next years dates have already been set. We will have the 4th Annual Festival from Aug. 3-9, 2009. We look forward to many new friends and time spent making music. Check our web site for any new details: www.midsummermusiquebec.com

With Love and Peace,

Pat, Kathy and Harris

ps...Nina...thanks for the lovely photos!!!

A Music Festival Continues in Rural Quebec – featuring concerts of music for classical guitar, flute, violin and voice

2008-07-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

Join us for our 3rd annual festival in this beautiful region. We started this festival with Harris Becker and the response to our concerts and teaching has been wonderful. The region is very special and we have made many good friends there. Here is the web site: www.midsummermusiquebec.com

From August 4 to August 10, the farm lands, fields and forests of south-west Quebec will be awash with the sounds of music. The festival. “A Midsummer Music Dream/ Songe d’été en musique” will feature concerts of music for solo guitar, guitar with flute and voice, violin and piano. The performers are professional musicians from New York who are regular visitors to the region.

In addition to the concerts, festival participants can also enroll in classes such as technique and chamber ensemble, and rock guitar. Instruction will also be given in voice, piano, violin, flute and harpsichord.

The festival will take place at the junction of the Beauce and Eastern Townships region of Quebec which is approximately 1 1/2 hour drive south from Quebec City, 1 1/2 hour drive north-east from Sherbrooke and a 1 1/2 hour drive north from the Maine border crossing. Events are taking place in the villages of Courcelles, Lambton, Lac-Drolet and La Guadeloupe. The venues are the Moulin Bernier, a museum of art and culture in Courcelles, Église St-Vital in Lambton, the Moulin at Domaine La Guadeloupe, the Maison du Granit in Lac-Drolet, which is also a museum.

Listen to Soundclips from the festival in 2007:

DOWNLOAD A POSTER!! Midsummer Music Dream Poster

Baroque Across the River selected for GEMS 2nd annual showcase

2008-07-06T07:24:00.000-07:00

"Baroque Across the River", an ensemble devoted to performing early music on period instruments, has been selected as one of 9 ensembles chosen to perform in the second annual showcase of New York's finest early music ensembles. The concerts are presented by GEMS, Gotham Early Music Scene and will be held at one of the city's newest concert halls, The Times Center located on 41st Street just east of 8th Avenue.

The ensemble is directed jointly by Kathleen McDonald and Michele Eaton. Their concert is scheduled for Sunday, September 28 at 4:00 PM. They will be joined by Martha McGaughey and Arthur Haas.

Visit their website: www.baroqueacrosstheriver.com

For a full list of concerts visit the GEMSsite: www.gemsny.org/home.html

2008-07-05T14:11:00.000-07:00

Welcome Visitors

2008-07-05T13:32:00.000-07:00

Greetings Visitors!

Welcome to our blog. I will try to keep you up to date on Kathy and I. This blog will include news, site recommendations, and all the usual blog activities....photos, videos(maybe) and sound clips.

I will keep you posted here on the progress of our soon-to-be released CD, "Hill of Slane - Psalms, Sonatas & Sojourns. The next posting will be a self-styled press release for you to read.

To return to our web site: www.fluteandguitarduo.com