Early musicians play church

The Bloomington Early Music Festival held a concert with Ensemble Lipzodes, a five-member group that specializes in 16th century Guatemalan church music, in the Trinity Episcopal Church Saturday night.\nThe concert was a precursor to the Early Music America Medieval and Renaissance music competition in New York. The group was invited to the festival, and if this weekend's performance is any indication of how they will perform in New York, many among the audience said they should do very well. Comprised entirely of members of the Early Music Institute, the group has formed within the past year, said member Keith Collins. The music performed came from the Guatemalan Lipzodes manuscripts found in the Lilly Library and revitalized by Paul Borg for his master's thesis, said member Wolodymyr Smishkewych.\nThe Early Music Institute works closely with the Department of Early Music within the School of Music.\n"We aid the department and link it with the outside world," said Early Music Institute Director Michael McCraw.\nThis, of course, includes collaborating with the Bloomington Early Music Festival.\nEarly is defined as anything before the current century, said Early Music Institute Department Chair Wendy Gillespie.\n"What we played tonight was from before 1750," Gillespie said. "It included late Renaissance and Medieval music tonight."\nThe purpose of Ensemble Lipzodes is to recreate the music of the 16th century Guatemalan churches as much as possible.\n"We try to figure (out) what the music sounded like historically," said Gillespie. \nThe concert featured several pieces played on the ancient wind instruments, such as recorders, shawms and dulcians.\n"We reflect the original sounds and aesthetics," McCraw said. "If this music was played by an orchestra with current instruments, it would not be the same thing."\nAn example of recreating the sound with the original instrument was the tenor dulcian played by Collins.\n"It's like a baby Renaissance bassoon," he said of his instrument.\nAccompanying the wind instruments was a thumping drum played by Smishkewych as well as Smishkewych's tenor voice along with three guest singers: a soprano, an alto and a baritone.\nThe music was well received by the crowd, many of whom were versed in classical music. Audience member Robert Freu is very fond of early music in particular.\n"I liked it a lot," Freu said. "It is obvious that they rehearsed a lot and worked very hard on the translations (from Spanish)."\nEnsemble Lipzodes was formed for a national competition, explained Smishkewych. The music will include music from six ensembles playing music from before 1620, said Collins. Ensemble Lipzodes will travel to the Early Music America Medieval and Renaissance music competition in New York later this month.\n"Our concert went really well tonight," Collins said. "We are all very pleased, and I am really looking forward to New York."\nSupporters of early music are also excited about the competition.\n"I think they should win, or at least come in second place," Freu said.\n-- Contact staff writer Benjames Derrick at bderrick@indiana.edu.