By Sally Magallanes

If you love the music of Bach, Handel, Purcell, Albioni or Vivaldi, there is no doubt you will be equally delighted with Garry Clarke and Baroque Band. In spring of 2007, Chicago could again boast having its own unique, Baroque ensemble, playing on period instruments.

Baroque Band was founded by Garry Clarke, a British Baroque violinist who came to the United States in 2004 as one of the Vilar Fellows at the Kennedy Center’s Institute for Art Management, Washington, DC. Clarke was one of only five international musicians chosen in that year for the fellowship. Born near Coventry, England, he is a graduate of the Royal College of Music in London and pretty much went straight into playing Baroque music on a period instrument, rather than the traditional modern violin (although he has also performed on it). Clarke currently owns three period violins, one from 1760 and two from the 1790’s, along with an assortment of bows, which he states “are the most important elements to own, as different bows are used on the various Baroque pieces” performed. Period bows are so different than modern ones that some musicians just “don’t expect it” and must really learn new techniques.

In the United Kingdom, Clarke became known as one of the finest performers and interpreters of Baroque music, becoming Artistic Director of The 18th Century Concert Orchestra and a member of the European Baroque Orchestra. He has traveled, recorded and performed across the UK and Europe with some of the finest musicians in Baroque music. After Clarke completed the 10-month fellowship in Washington, DC, he stayed in the area and worked with a number of other period musicians, conducting and performing various solo and chamber music engagements. He teamed up with American harpsichordist Michelle Roy and served as principal conductor of the Garth Newel Music Festival in Virginia in 2005 and 2006. Clarke also has performed with numerous other American ensembles, such as Washington Bach Consort, Opera Lafayette, The National Cathedral Baroque Orchestra, The Orchestra of the 17th Century in Washington, DC, New Trinity Baroque in Atlanta and Ars Antiqua and the Callipygian Players in Chicago.

Under the direction of Founder Garry Clarke, Baroque Band is an ensemble of 20 musicians who all perform on period instruments. The group is composed of primarily strings and harpsichord. In the future, Clarke hopes to add oboes, bassoons and flutes, again, all instruments from the Baroque era. As noted earlier, Baroque Band debuted in spring 2007, performing at the Music Institute of Chicago’s Nichols Hall in Evanston. The Baroque Band is Ensemble-in-Residence at the Music Institute and Clarke is part of the early music faculty. He chose Chicago as the location to form the early-music period group because of its rich culture, excellent professional musicians and support of the arts. Clarke also states that “Chicago just felt right — it’s a great city, but not as crowded as New York.” When he arrived in Chicago, Clarke was amazed that Chicago did not have an existing period-instrument orchestra. The name “Baroque Band” not only describes the era of music, but is “catchy and easy to remember,” notes its founder.

In addition to performances at the Music Institute of Chicago, Baroque Band regularly gives concerts at Symphony Center’s Grainger Ballroom, Rockefeller Memorial Chapel on the University of Chicago’s campus and St. Thomas the Apostle Church, the latter two located in Hyde Park. The ensemble is Artistic Partner for Music for Rockefeller Memorial Chapel. Baroque Band’s performances at times feature a guest soloist such as Soprano Jennifer Ellis Kampani or Baroque Flautist Anita Reider. The string musicians of Baroque Band perform standing up, in keeping with the tradition of true period ensembles. David Schrader, a charter member and harpsichordist, is, of course, seated while playing. While serious about rehearsing and performing, Clarke states that they “have fun while playing,” and hopes this joy is displayed to its audiences.

While founded and based in Chicago, Clarke’s ultimate goal for Baroque Band is to create a self-supporting national, or international, early-period music ensemble. As the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Joffrey Ballet are world-renowned artistic groups, Baroque Band aspires to become a name people of many cultures and countries will recognize. With the combined talent of some of the best Chicago early-music performers, directed by one of Europe’s (and now the United States’) finest interpreter and conductor of the same, performing some of the most cherished pieces composed by Bach, Handel, Vivaldi and others from the Baroque era, there is no doubt this group will succeed.