Juilliard Baroque Double Bass Recital Performed by Hugo Abraham Accompanied by Baroque Instruments

Last night's Baroque Double Bass recital, a partial requirement for a MFA degree for Hugo Abraham, was a trip back in time to the Renaissance & Baroque epochs.  Abraham is a student from France working on his Master of Music Degree.  His program featured a Sonata by Johann Sperger (b Austria 1750-1812) and Girolamo Frescobaldi (b Italy 1583-1643).  Sperger's Sonata was a duet accompanied by violist Alana Youssefian.  Abraham spoke to the audience at length before playing.  Unfortunately, his heavy French accent & perhaps acoustics made it impossible for me (sitting in the very back) to decipher.  Morse Hall seats around 200 people & is sporadically attended.  Last evening there was almost a full house.  The Baroque Double Bass is a 4 string bass in a Gambon shape with a flat back and 4 strings.  It is the precursor for the bass and used for performing Baroque and Chamber Music.  Sperger's Sonata per el Contrabasso with Viola was a lovely chamber piece.  Frescobaldi's Canzoni da sonare in 5 movements was an enchanting time travel; back to the early royal courts in the 16th C.  Abraham was joined by 4 Juilliard students on the violin, dulcian, theorbo and virginal.  The dulcian was the only wind instrument. It's a double reed with folded conical bore invented around the mid 16th C and a precursor to the modern bassoon.  The dulcian's stentorian sound predominated the Canzon Quinta a solo basso with a distinct rich tone.  The theorbo is a large lute with rounded back & long neck. It is played by plucking the strings.  It was a popular accompaniment in 17th & 18th C Baroque & Classical music.  The keyboard instrument was a virginal which is related to the harpsichord but smaller & simpler with 1 string per note.  It's a small rectangular shape that is set upon a stand making it portable.  The origin of its name "virginal" has several theories.  One theory is that it was given its name as it was used by the nuns at the time for hymnals honoring the Virgin Mary.  I found the music exotic in its ancestral origin and was further enchanted by seeing musical instruments not found in symphonic compositions since the 19th Century.  The recitals are free & open to the public and there is plethora of musical styles & instrumentations.