Red Deer Symphony Orchestra’s concert this Saturday takes audience on visit through history

“We’re planning it on copies of instruments from the period to give it real authentic flair,” he said. “Something that is more historically informed in terms of trying to recreate the type of performance that they had back then, over 200 years ago.”

Lapalme described the various differences between period instruments and those played today.

Strings on period-violins and cellos are made from silver and gut, which are the intestines of certain animals like sheep, rather than today’s steel-made strings. He says this offers a traditional sound heard in the 18^th century.

Not only are the bow instruments shaped differently but, as a result, are held in a different way. The cello, for example, must be cradled between the legs firmly as there is no pen at the bottom to stabilize it.

Wind instruments like flutes, oboes, and bassoons fewer keys, he says, and the keyboard used is a harpsichord which plucks strings, rather than hammers them, to create sound.

Lapalme says that all the music will be played in a lower pitch to match the music of the time, simultaneously offering the audience a beautiful concert and a history lesson.

He says they will play a few popular pieces, like music from Venetian composer Antonio Vivaldi, and some lesser known ones, such as music from German Baroque composer Johann Pachelbel.

One unique set that will be played, he described, is “Les Élémens” (The Elements) by late Baroque French composer Jean-Féry Rebel.

Originally written for a prince, Lapalme says the symphony is based on nature’s elements: water, air, earth and fire. The first chord, called “Le Chaos”, exemplifies its title of “The Chaos” as it combines all the instruments at once for a shock factor. However, as the symphony goes on, each element slowly comes into existence on its own with the flutes representing water, the bass representing earth, and the violin for fire. He says the symphony will be accompanies by a series of dance forms.

“It’s music that is not meant to impress; it is music, truly, that is meant to delight,” he said.

Lapalme founded the Rosa Barocca group in 2016, noting there was no similar group in the province with this style of music at the time.

He says it brings a level of elegance that anyone will want more of.

“It’s important to bring any kind of show to Red Deer. Music is wonderful. This just brings a little bit more ‘palette’ to the set of ears that we have in Red Deer. They need to hear different things and that’s one more different thing to listen to,” he said.

Tickets can be purchased on RDP’s website.

The RDSO will host one more concert for the season, “Wandering with Wonder”, on May 27.

by Alessia Proietti

Red Deer Symphony Orchestra’s concert this Saturday takes audience on visit through history

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