Another full house for the Bellarmine Jazz Ensemble - this time in Naples

Wow, what an audience!!! The Bellarmine University Jazz Ensemble was extremely well received in the third largest Italian city of Naples on Monday, March 7 when the performed to over 200 people in a rather unusual church venue. Joined by the Jazz Class of the Naples Conservatory, the students and faculty members played for a good two hours and received lots of applaus as well as a standing ovation for the jam session that concluded the event.

Bellarmine University in the news in Italy

Musica: a Maiori sabato 5 marzo concerto dei Bellarmine University Jazz Ensemble


Sulla scia di una positiva opera di raccordo artistico - culturale già maturata negli anni scorsi, la città di Maiori si appresta ad accogliere l’entusiasmo di gruppi corali provenienti da oltreoceano, in tour in Italia, per la rassegna denominata “Incantato Choral Festival 2011”, che si protrarrà con diversi appuntamenti fino a maggio. Protagonisti indiscussi, con ensemble a cappella e formazioni di jazz band, ben cinque gruppi studenteschi provenienti da prestigiosi College e High Schools della California, Kentucky, Rhode Island e Canada.

Ad aprire il festival sarà l’Ensemble Jazz di Bellarmine University, proveniente dal Kentucky, il 5 marzo alle ore 19,30 presso la Sala degli Affreschi di Palazzo Mezzacapo, che presenterà un concerto di noti standard jazz americani con musiche di Ellington, Mancini, Rodgers & Hart e Garner. L'ensemble Jazz è diretto dal Mr. David Clark. Il Bellarmine University Jazz Ensemble è un’ élite di 7 membri il cui scopo è esplorare il repertorio jazz contemporaneo, svolge numerosi concerti durante tutto l'anno ed è il gruppo di riferimento nell'area metropolitana di Louisville. David Clark ha avuto la fortuna di studiare con Harry Pickens, Don Braden, Wessell Anderson, Sim Flora, e Branford Marsalis ed ha suonato con artisti diversi come Benny Golson, Clark Terry, Randy Brecker, Stanley Turrentine, James Moody, Kevin Mahogany, Harry Pickens, Nancy Wilson, Miles Griffith, l'Orchestra Louisville, la Dells, e Delfeayo Marsalis. Dave si è esibito al Festival Umbria Jazz a Perugia, in Italia, così come il Montreux Jazz Festival di Montreaux, in Svizzera. Dave si è stabilito a Louisville, KY, dove egli è il capo del programma di Jazz Studies presso l'Università di Bellarmine. Il repertorio dell’Ensemble Jazz prevede i seguenti pezzi: Take the A Train - Duke Ellington; Nature Boy - Curt Elling; The Days of Wine and Roses - Henry Mancini; Death Letter - Son House; My Funny Valentine - Rodgers and Hart; My Foolish Heart - Victor Young; Four on Six - Wes Montgomery; Bluesette - Toots Thielman; Star Eyes - Don Raye; Misty - Erroll Garner.

Domenica 6 marzo alle ore 18,00, nella chiesa di S. Francesco, la Schola & Louisville Vocal Project, sempre proveniente dall’Università di Bellarmine, cureranno l’animazione della messa a cui farà seguito un concerto del coro a cappella. La Schola Cantorum, in collaborazione con il Vocal Project Louisville, diretti dal Mr. S. Timoteo Glasscock, presenterà un concerto di opere sacre e profane del passato e del presente, con musica di Parsons, Byrd, Stanford e Burchard. La Bellarmine University Schola Cantorum è un ensemble vocal misto che esegue una vasta gamma del repertorio corale dal 1500 ad oggi.

Il Louisville Vocal Project è stato costituito nell'aprile del 2010 ed è composto da musicisti professionisti con anni di esperienza nella loro specialità musicali. Ispirato al Rinascimento, ma impegnato nel repertorio contemporaneo, LVP può eseguire musica antica, opere per voce sola, opere che incorporano strumenti, e nuovi lavori di compositori locali. S. Timoteo Glasscock ha più di 30 anni di esperienza nel campo della musica vocale tra cui 15 anni come responsabile di agenzie come Chorus & The Men's Lexington, Il Coro Louisville. I suoi cori hanno cantato nella Cattedrale di Notre Dame, a San Marco a Venezia, nel Duomo di Rochester, a Santiago de Compostela e in numerose altre sedi in tutta Europa e in America.

The Louisville Vocal Project in tour in Italia questa primavera e si esibirà nella Basilica di San Pietro. Il concerto dei due gruppi a Maiori prevede i seguenti brani: Ave verum corpus - William Byrd; Hear my prayer, O Lord - Henry Purcell; O vos omnes - Pablo Casals ; Christus factus est - Anton Bruckner ; Oculi omnium - Charles Wood; Peccantum me quotidie - Cristobal de Morales ; Set me as a seal - Renee Clausen; Salzburg Lenten missa brevis - Richard Burchard; Exsultate just in Domino - Ludovico da Viadana; O vos omnes - Tomas Luis da Victoria ; Herself a Rose - Craig Courtney; Beati quorum via - Charles Villiers Stanford; Ave Maria - Robert Parsons; Thou shalt know him - Mark Sirrett.

Il Festival è nato dalla sinergia di Incantato Tour & Concerts, organizzazione americana leader negli scambi culturali di prestigiose compagini corali tra USA ed Europa, con i Comuni di Maiori, Amalfi e Napoli in Campania e si articola in una serie di appuntamenti itineranti, tra Marzo e Maggio nei comuni suddetti.

Info: Giovanna Dell’Isola ufficio stampa comune di Maiori tel. 3316143261

To go to the website, please click here.

Monday, March 7, 2011: Bellarmine University Music Department Ensembles perform in Naples

This morning, the group has the option to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pompeii before they continue to Naples for an orientation tour and authentic Neapolitan pizza lunch. Schola Cantorum and the Louisville Vocal Project perform a concert at 4:45PM today at la Chiesa di Santa Teresa degli Scalzi in Naples. 

The church is the eponym for the street on which it is located, just around the corner to the north of the National Archaeological Museum. The interior of the church is a treasure trove, with works by painters Paolo de Matteis and Battistello Caracciolo and the sculptor Domenico Antonio Vaccaro, among many others. Also, the church holds a painting of Holy Roman Emperor Charles VII. It is by Giacomo Colombo and is from 1715, the era of the brief Austrian Hapsburg vice-realm in Naples. The chapel of St. Teresa within the church was designed by Cosimo Fanzago and is considered relevant in the history of Neapolitan Baroque art.

The Bellarmine University Jazz Ensemble will perform a concert of well-known American jazz standards at 7:00 this evening at Naples' Oratorio di S.Giovanna Antida Thouret, the former Chiesa dei S.Bernardino e Margherita a Fonseca. The Chiesa dei S.Bernardino e Margherita a Fonseca was built in the XVII century by Pietro de Martino. At the end of the century, chapels were added as well as a dome. After an earthquake in 1980, it was restored and since then has been used as an oratory where the youth meets for performances and social activities.

The concert is followed by an informal jam session, during which the Jazz Ensemble of the Bellarmine University Music Department will get support from the local jazz class of the Naples Conservatory "San Pietro a Majella". The director is Pietro Condorelli, one of the best jazz guitar players in Italy. The Naples Conservatory and adjacent church are today part of the old San Pietro a Majella monastic complex, built at the end of the 13th century and dedicated to the monk Pietro da Morone, who became Pope Celestine V in 1294. The conservatory houses an impressive library of manuscripts pertaining to the lives and musical production of composers who lived and worked in Naples, among whom are Alessandro Scarlatti, Pergolesi, Domenico Cimarosa, Rossini, Bellini, and Donizetti. The historical museum has a display of rare antique musical instruments.

Bellarmine Jazz Ensemble in Maiori

Bellarmine University Schola and Louisville Vocal Project in concert at San Francesco di Maiori

Impressions from the Bellarmine Concert in Maiori

Bellarmine Jazz Faculty takes Maiori by storm

Carnevale a Maiori

Sunday, March 6, 2011: Bellarmine University's Schola Cantorum & Louisville Vocal Project perform in Maiori

The Bellarmine University Music Department Performance Tour will once again travel to nearby Maiori today. The travelers have the opportunity to explore Amalfi and enjoy Maiori's Great Carnival celebrations today prior to this evening's choral performance. 

Schola Cantorum and the Louisville Vocal Project will present their first Italian performance at Maiori's Chiesa di San Francesco this evening. The choirs will sing and participate in mass at the church at 6:00PM, immediately followed by a feature concert performance. 

The beautiful Chiesa di San Francesco was constructed in 1405. It is located between the convent and the Cove of the Announced One (Grotta dell'Annunziata) in Maiori. The church has a rough history: In 1435 it was destroyed by the army of Muhammad II (Turkey) and rebuilt one year later by Saint Bernardino from Siena. A hard sea storm then hit the Chiesa di San Francesco in 1440. It was destroyed and in 1517 reconstructed on the oriental side of the convent. But the work was interrupted again by a Turkish invasion. In 1590 the construction was finally completed. Last but not least there were several constructive modifications after two seas storm in 1631 and 1674. The church is famed world-wide for the miracle of the springing water in the convent.

Concert and Audience Impressions from the 2011 Maiori BU Jazz Ensemble Concert

First Bellarmine University Gig in Maiori leads to a repeat performance on Sunday, March 6 at 8 pm

The Bellarmine University Jazz Ensemble kicked of their 2011 Incantato Italy Performance Tour with a concert at the historic town hall of Maiori on Saturday, March 5 to a full house. The audience, including Assesore Andrea del Pizzo, loved the combo under the direction of Dave Clark so much, that the musicians were asked to present a second concert and jam session the following night again as one of the highlights for the Carneval celebrations when thousands of visitors are expected to come to Maiori on the Amalfi Coast.

More impressions from the BU Jazz Ensemble gig in Maiori

First Bellarmine Jazz gig in Maiori leads to repeat performance on March 6

Saturday, March 5, 2011: Bellarmine University's Jazz Ensemble performs in Maiori

After their first night in Italy, the Bellarmine University Music Department Tour transfers from Cetara to nearby Maiori this morning for an orientation tour, followed by a special pizza-making workshop and lunch at Mammoto. The group will have some free time this afternoon for exploration and shopping before this evening's performance. 
The Bellarmine University Jazz Ensemble presents their first Italian performance at 7:30 this evening at la Sala degli Affreschi in Maiori's City Hall. 

The Sala degli Affreschi is part of the Mezzacapo Building. As the visitor enters the massive carved wooden door, the magnificence of the ancient entrance to the home of the former Marquis of Mezzacapo is immediately apparent.

Two marble stairways lead to the upper floors of the building, which, today, is the seat of the City Hall. The sumptuous Reception Hall stands out among the various rooms of the building. The grand vaulted ceiling, frescoed with a depiction of "The Triumph of the Olympians", and the walls adorned by mirrors and gilded figurines, give this hall a pompous ambiance, but also enchanting. In 1943, during the Allied landing, this building was the General Headquarters of the American troops stationed in the area.

 

The Bellarmine University Music Department Travelers have landed safely in Italy!

Good news from Italy: The Bellarmine University Music Department Tour, led by Mr. Richard Burchard, has arrived safely in Italy!
After collecting their luggage and meeting their Incantato Tour Manager, Ambra Pasqualina, at the airport, the travelers are off to the town of Cetara on the beautiful Amalfi Coast. There the group will enjoy a very special welcome dinner at their hotel. The tour will be staying at the Hotel Cetus, located atop a cliff overlooking the water, from March 4 through 7.
Click here for hotel information.
Tomorrow, Saturday, March 5, the group will take a day trip to nearby Maiori for an orientation tour and pizza-making workshop. The Bellarmine University Jazz Ensemble will then present their very first Italian performance, as they play at la Sala Affreschi di Palazzo Mezzacapo in Maiori's City Hall this evening.

Wishing you safe travels to Italy!

Dear travelers,

We wish you a safe trip to Europe! Your Incantato Tour Manager Ambra Pasqualina will be welcoming everyone on Friday, March 4 at Rome (FCO) airport at 1:30PM prior to your transfer to Cetara on the Amalfi Coast for a special welcome reception at the Hotel Cetus. The weather is said to be a little cloudy with a few rain showers, but the temperature will still be around 60°F.

Enjoy your time in Europe, Your Incantato Tours Team

Catholic TV - Papal Programming

On the website www.catholictv.com, you can have a look behind the curtain of the Vatican. CatholicTV is a Catholic television network based in Watertown, Massachusetts. It is distributed on cable systems in eight U.S. states and via the internet. CatholicTV broadcasts programming relevant to Catholic viewers, including live religious services, talk shows, devotional programs, educational programming, entertainment, and children's programs. It also presents coverage of special events at the Vatican and of papal journeys. The current president of CatholicTV is Father Robert Reed.

The Jazz Ensemble of Bellarmine University Music Department performs at Oratorio di S.Giovanna Antida Thouret (Naples) on Monday, March 7 at 7 PM

On Monday, March 7, 2011 the Jazz Ensemble of the Bellarmine University Music Department, of Louisville, Kentucky, will present a concert of well-known American jazz standards featuring the music of Ellington, Mancini, Rodgers & Hart, Young, and Garner under the direction of Mr. David Clark in Naples. The venue will be a no-more-sacred church, now used as an oratory and concert hall, called Oratorio di S.Giovanna Antida Thouret (former Chiesa dei S.Bernardino e Margherita a Fonseca). The Chiesa dei S.Bernardino e Margherita a Fonseca was built in the XVII century by Pietro de Martino. At the end of the century, chapels were added as well as a dome. After an earthquake in 1980, it was restored and since then has been used as an oratory where the youth meets for performances and social activities.

For the jam session, the Jazz Ensemble of the Bellarmine University Music Department will get support from the local jazz class of the Naples Conservatory "San Pietro a Majella". The director is Pietro Condorelli, one of the best jazz guitar players in Italy. The conservatory and adjacent church are today part of the old San Pietro a Majella monastic complex, built at the end of the 13th century and dedicated to the monk Pietro da Morone, who became Pope Celestine V in 1294. The conservatory houses an impressive library of manuscripts pertaining to the lives and musical production of composers who lived and worked in Naples, among whom are Alessandro Scarlatti, Pergolesi, Domenico Cimarosa, Rossini, Bellini, and Donizetti. The historical museum has a display of rare antique musical instruments.

Incantato Destination: Monte Porzio Catone, Italy

Monte Porzio Catone is a municipality of the Province of Rome in the Italian Region of Latium and lies approximately twenty kilometers southeast of Rome in the Alban Hills. In addition to the Church of Saint Gregory the Great, erected in 1666 by Carlo Rainaldi for the Borghese family, ome of the town’s main attractions include the Astronomical Rome Observatory, the Museum of Wine, the City Museum, and the Iseo Alari Community School of Music.

The Astronomical Rome Observatory was built in 1939 and is located two kilometers from the city center. The structure rises from the remains of “Matilda’s Villa,” a first century Roman Villa. Originally built for the purpose of preserving the equipment of the National Observatory in Rome, the rationalist-style Astronomical Rome Observatory now promotes astronomic and scientific studies through educational initiatives and exchanges with schools and universities.

Opened in 2000, the Museum of Wine not only provides visitors with the highest quality wine tastings, but also takes guests through the process of creating wine. A tour of the museum teaches visitors, through the use of photos and demonstrations, the intricate steps of the wine production process. The museum even houses its own exclusive wine cellar.

The Monte Porzio City Museum is housed within a recently restored seventeenth century cathedral within the heart of the city. The museum illustrates the multi-thousand-year history of the city through such exhibitions as archeological findings, medieval papal pottery, and seventeenth century art.

The Iseo Ilari Community School of Music was founded by the Monte Porzio Catone City Administration in 1999. Through not only classes, but also performances and workshops, the school succeeds in encouraging social interaction and acceptance through the dissemination of music and cultural arts. The school, a recognized institution of the Italian Association of Schools of Music, currently offers studies in Classical Tradition and Music Performance.

For more information on Monte Porzio Catone, Italy, please visit: http://www.comune.monteporziocatone.rm.it/

Bellarmine University's Schola Cantorum & Louisville Vocal Project perform at Il Duomo di San Gregorio Magno, Monte Porzio Catone - March 13 at 7 PM

Bellarmine University’s Schola Cantorum and Louisville Vocal Project will perform in concert at Il Duomo di San Gregorio Magno in Monte Porzio Catone on Sunday, March 13, 2011 at 7:00PM. Il Duomo di San Gregorio Magno, or the Cathedral of Saint Gregory the Great, was constructed in 1666 in Monte Porzio Catone, Italy. Prince Giovan Battista Borghese, Lord of Monte Porzio, commissioned architect Carlo Rainaldi to design the structure. The façade, flanked by two sets of columns, is crowned by a triangular pediment boasting a large marble coat of arms. The molding above the central doorway bears the inscription “Divo Gregorio Magno Dicatum,” or “Dedicated to Saint Gregory the Great.” Two large bell towers also border the exterior of the church. Rainaldi constructed the church in a traditional Greek cross layout with three altars and two small chapels near the entrance. In honor of Prince Borghese, each wall bears a chancel adorned with the dragon and eagle of the Borghese coat of arms. The four confessionals are identical to those in the Roman church of Santa Maria Campitelli, also designed by Rainaldi. The church also displays 18th century images of the Via Crucis, a 17th century statue of Sant’Antonio Abate, and a large 19th century organ.