What is the essence of The Madness of Repetitions? What connects La follia with the song Une jeune fillette? Their extraordinary, almost viral popularity. What were these arias and melodies with an infinite number of variations for the people of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries? The same as Louis Armstrong’s What a Wonderful World, Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You, Summertime sung in the raspy voice of Janis Joplin, a little earlier the seductive Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuss auf Liebe eingestellt by Marlene Dietrich, the nonchalant Non, je ne regrette rien by Edith Piaf, and in Poland Niech żyje bal or Dziwny jest ten świat.
The simple song Flow My Tears by John Dowland from 1596, also known as Lacrimae Antique has been adapted for many instruments – even Sting reached for it, popularising his compatriot’s piece in this century. The musicians of {oh!} will perform it in the 17th-century chamber style and therefore with the original ornamentation. How popular did Flow My Tears become at that time? Incredibly, and this was certainly due to Dowland not caring about copyright at all – such a premise did not even exist at that time. The first attempts to protect the interests of authors and thus impose restrictions on the activities of artists were made in London thanks to Handel. Up until that point, fame was more important than money and the most beautiful compositions were more easily given new interpretations and sometimes spread all over the continent.
Variations are a formula that allows for the presentation of an engaging melody while exposing the performer’s skills. Some are so far from the original that only the title reminds us of the connection. This is the case with the French song Une jeune fillette. Its lyrics and minor key are related to sonatas using the widely known theme of La Monica. The different tempi, different expressions and emotions of the composition about a young girl who refuses to be locked up in a convent suggest that not only the catchy melody but also the subject matter were important elements boosting the work’s popularity.
The Duke of Norfolk is a brilliant, fast-flowing song replete with opportunities to show off and impress the audience with fast playing (which is always appreciated). Moreover, the theme of love is relevant in every century. The Lass of Patie’s Mill – to explain the narrative behind the text: a cheerful and beautiful miller stole the heart of a not-so-inexperienced admirer, whom she won over with her “bare head” (with her hair flowing freely?) and lust in her eyes – these are the most current complaints that can still be heard in all of music literature today! This is the essence of tonight’s concert. By learning what played in the hearts and souls of the Baroque era people, we will discover to what extent it still resonates with us.