Virtual Concert: Music of J.S. Bach
Program
J.S. Bach Invention No. 6 in E Major, BWV 777
Mary Bonhag, soprano; Evan Premo, double bass
J.S. Bach Allegro from Sonata in E minor BWV 1034
Emi Ferguson, baroque flute; Ruckus
J.S. Bach Sarabande from Keyboard Partita No.6 in E minor, BWV 830
Elliot Figg, clavichord
G.Ph. Telemann Fantasia No. 1 in A Major
Clay Zeller-Townson, baroque bassoon
J.S. Bach Schlummert ein ihr matten Augen from Ich habe genug BWV 82
Mary Bonhag, soprano; Evan Premo, double bass
J.S. Bach Siciliano from Sonata in E Major, BWV 1035
Emi Ferguson, baroque flute; Clay Zeller-Townson, baroque bassoon; Ruckus
J.S. Bach Adagio from Sonata in A Major, BWV 1032
Emi Ferguson, baroque flute
Evan Premo / J.S. Bach Waltz and Minuets from Cello Suite No.1 in G Major, BWV 1007
Evan Premo, double bass
J.S. Bach Invention No. 6 in E Major, BWV 777
Mary Bonhag, soprano; Evan Premo, double bass
J.S. Bach Allegro from Sonata in E minor BWV 1034
Emi Ferguson, baroque flute; Ruckus
J.S. Bach Sarabande from Keyboard Partita No.6 in E minor, BWV 830
Elliot Figg, clavichord
G.Ph. Telemann Fantasia No. 1 in A Major
Clay Zeller-Townson, baroque bassoon
J.S. Bach Schlummert ein ihr matten Augen from Ich habe genug BWV 82
Mary Bonhag, soprano; Evan Premo, double bass
J.S. Bach Siciliano from Sonata in E Major, BWV 1035
Emi Ferguson, baroque flute; Clay Zeller-Townson, baroque bassoon; Ruckus
J.S. Bach Adagio from Sonata in A Major, BWV 1032
Emi Ferguson, baroque flute
Evan Premo / J.S. Bach Waltz and Minuets from Cello Suite No.1 in G Major, BWV 1007
Evan Premo, double bass
Text - Schlummert ein ihr matten Augen from Ich habe genug BWV 82
Fall asleep, you weary eyes,
close softly and be peaceful!
World, I will not remain here any longer,
I own no part of you
that could matter to my soul.
Here I must build up misery,
but there, there I will see
sweet peace, quiet rest.
Fall asleep, you weary eyes,
close softly and be peaceful!
World, I will not remain here any longer,
I own no part of you
that could matter to my soul.
Here I must build up misery,
but there, there I will see
sweet peace, quiet rest.
Artist Bios
Soprano Mary Bonhag captivates audiences around the country with her “marvelous versatility” and “supple, expressive” voice (San Antonio News). As a new music specialist Mary made her Carnegie Hall solo debut in 2009 and orchestral debut with the American Symphony Orchestra in the same year. She is co-Artistic Director of Scrag Mountain Music with her husband, composer / double bassist Evan Premo. A consummate collaborator, Mary has performed with the Aizuri Quartet, Decoda, Spektral Quartet, as well as chamber music festivals around the country including Cactus Pear (TX), San Francisco Contemporary Players, 21st Century Consort, and Yellow Barn. As a recitalist, she has been presented at Dartmouth, Smith, and Goucher colleges, and the University of Vermont, and has had fellowships at SongFest and Tanglewood. marybonhagsoprano.com
Flutist Emi Ferguson's approach to the flute can be heard in performances that alternate between the Silver Flute, Historical Flutes, and Auxilary Flutes, playing repertoire that stretches from the Renaissance to today. Emi can be heard live in concerts and festivals around the world as a soloist and with groups including AMOC*, the New York New Music Ensemble, the Handel and Haydn Society, the Manhattan Chamber Players. Her debut album, Amour Cruel, an indie-pop song cycle inspired by the music of the 17th century French court was released by Arezzo Music in 2017 and her 2019 album Fly the Coop: Bach Sonatas and Preludes, a collaboration with continuo band Ruckus debuted at #1 on the iTunes classical charts and #2 on the Billboard classical charts. Emi is the 1st Prize winner of the National Flute Association’s Young Artist Competition, of the New York Flute Club Young Artist competition, the Mid-Atlantic Flute Competition, the Juilliard Concerto Competition, the J.C. Arriaga Chamber Music Competition, and was a recipient of the 2014 Salon de Virtuosi grant. Emi is currently on faculty at the Juilliard School. Born in Japan and raised in London and Boston, she now resides in New York City. emiferguson.com
Keyboardist Elliot Figg is a graduate of the Historical Performance Program at The Juilliard School where he studied harpsichord with Kenneth Weiss. Elliot is an active member of several New York based early music and contemporary ensembles, including ACRONYM, New York Baroque Incorporated, and New Vintage Baroque. Recent engagements include: Conductor and harpsichordist for L'Amant Anonyme with Little Opera Theatre of New York; assistant conductor and harpsichordist for Cavalli's Veremonda with Spoleto Festival USA; assistant conductor and harpsichordist for Dido and Aeneas with L.A. Opera; assistant conductor and harpsichordist for Alcina and Orlando with WhiteboxLab. Elliot received Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music composition from the University of North Texas where he studied composition with Cindy McTee and Joseph Klein, and harpsichord with Lenora McCroskey. His own works combine baroque performance techniques with altered tuning systems and modern formal approaches.
Double Bassist / Composer Evan Premo creates heart-centered music that inspires audiences and musicians alike. His music has been commissioned by the Pittsburgh Symphony Chamber Orchestra, River Town Duo, Owen Dalby, the International Society of Bassists, Diana Gannett, Paul Dwyer, The Pine Mountain Music Festival, Capitol City Concerts, and the Montpelier Chamber Orchestra. Evan is a member of Decoda with which he has performed in residencies around the world. As a member of Ensemble Connect, Evan has performed in concerts at Carnegie Hall and participated in residencies in Spain and Germany. As a chamber musician, he has performed at summer music festivals throughout the country and has been featured on National Public Radio’s Performance Today. Evan is actively involved with the Community Engagement Lab. He is Founder co-Artistic Director of Scrag Mountain Music with his wife, soprano Mary Bonhag and Founder and Artistic Director of Beethoven and Banjos, a residency that brings together folk and classical musicians in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. evanpremo.com
Bassoonist Clay Zeller-Townson plays with the leading period instrument ensembles in North America, including Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, Trinity Wall Street, Boston Baroque, Handel and Haydn Society, American Bach Soloists and Musica Angelica. He is the founder of Ruckus, a critically-acclaimed baroque band. With a deep passion for contemporary music, Clay has been involved in producing many new pieces for early instruments. From 2011-2016 he taught at The North Carolina Governor’s School where he developed a curriculum for gifted high school students centered around exposure to contemporary music, improvisation exercises, composition projects and listening development. Clay was born in Nova Scotia, raised in Eastern North Carolina, and found his way to the Baroque Bassoon by way of the Tenor Saxophone. He has degrees from The Eastman School of Music and The Juilliard School.
Soprano Mary Bonhag captivates audiences around the country with her “marvelous versatility” and “supple, expressive” voice (San Antonio News). As a new music specialist Mary made her Carnegie Hall solo debut in 2009 and orchestral debut with the American Symphony Orchestra in the same year. She is co-Artistic Director of Scrag Mountain Music with her husband, composer / double bassist Evan Premo. A consummate collaborator, Mary has performed with the Aizuri Quartet, Decoda, Spektral Quartet, as well as chamber music festivals around the country including Cactus Pear (TX), San Francisco Contemporary Players, 21st Century Consort, and Yellow Barn. As a recitalist, she has been presented at Dartmouth, Smith, and Goucher colleges, and the University of Vermont, and has had fellowships at SongFest and Tanglewood. marybonhagsoprano.com
Flutist Emi Ferguson's approach to the flute can be heard in performances that alternate between the Silver Flute, Historical Flutes, and Auxilary Flutes, playing repertoire that stretches from the Renaissance to today. Emi can be heard live in concerts and festivals around the world as a soloist and with groups including AMOC*, the New York New Music Ensemble, the Handel and Haydn Society, the Manhattan Chamber Players. Her debut album, Amour Cruel, an indie-pop song cycle inspired by the music of the 17th century French court was released by Arezzo Music in 2017 and her 2019 album Fly the Coop: Bach Sonatas and Preludes, a collaboration with continuo band Ruckus debuted at #1 on the iTunes classical charts and #2 on the Billboard classical charts. Emi is the 1st Prize winner of the National Flute Association’s Young Artist Competition, of the New York Flute Club Young Artist competition, the Mid-Atlantic Flute Competition, the Juilliard Concerto Competition, the J.C. Arriaga Chamber Music Competition, and was a recipient of the 2014 Salon de Virtuosi grant. Emi is currently on faculty at the Juilliard School. Born in Japan and raised in London and Boston, she now resides in New York City. emiferguson.com
Keyboardist Elliot Figg is a graduate of the Historical Performance Program at The Juilliard School where he studied harpsichord with Kenneth Weiss. Elliot is an active member of several New York based early music and contemporary ensembles, including ACRONYM, New York Baroque Incorporated, and New Vintage Baroque. Recent engagements include: Conductor and harpsichordist for L'Amant Anonyme with Little Opera Theatre of New York; assistant conductor and harpsichordist for Cavalli's Veremonda with Spoleto Festival USA; assistant conductor and harpsichordist for Dido and Aeneas with L.A. Opera; assistant conductor and harpsichordist for Alcina and Orlando with WhiteboxLab. Elliot received Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music composition from the University of North Texas where he studied composition with Cindy McTee and Joseph Klein, and harpsichord with Lenora McCroskey. His own works combine baroque performance techniques with altered tuning systems and modern formal approaches.
Double Bassist / Composer Evan Premo creates heart-centered music that inspires audiences and musicians alike. His music has been commissioned by the Pittsburgh Symphony Chamber Orchestra, River Town Duo, Owen Dalby, the International Society of Bassists, Diana Gannett, Paul Dwyer, The Pine Mountain Music Festival, Capitol City Concerts, and the Montpelier Chamber Orchestra. Evan is a member of Decoda with which he has performed in residencies around the world. As a member of Ensemble Connect, Evan has performed in concerts at Carnegie Hall and participated in residencies in Spain and Germany. As a chamber musician, he has performed at summer music festivals throughout the country and has been featured on National Public Radio’s Performance Today. Evan is actively involved with the Community Engagement Lab. He is Founder co-Artistic Director of Scrag Mountain Music with his wife, soprano Mary Bonhag and Founder and Artistic Director of Beethoven and Banjos, a residency that brings together folk and classical musicians in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. evanpremo.com
Bassoonist Clay Zeller-Townson plays with the leading period instrument ensembles in North America, including Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, Trinity Wall Street, Boston Baroque, Handel and Haydn Society, American Bach Soloists and Musica Angelica. He is the founder of Ruckus, a critically-acclaimed baroque band. With a deep passion for contemporary music, Clay has been involved in producing many new pieces for early instruments. From 2011-2016 he taught at The North Carolina Governor’s School where he developed a curriculum for gifted high school students centered around exposure to contemporary music, improvisation exercises, composition projects and listening development. Clay was born in Nova Scotia, raised in Eastern North Carolina, and found his way to the Baroque Bassoon by way of the Tenor Saxophone. He has degrees from The Eastman School of Music and The Juilliard School.
Scrag Mountain Music is supported in part by the Vermont Arts Council and the Nation Endowment for the Arts.
Town Hall Tour supporters: VPR and National Life Group Foundation, Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom, and Capitol Copy.
Special thanks to all participating musicians and to Paul Gambill for technical assistance.
Town Hall Tour supporters: VPR and National Life Group Foundation, Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom, and Capitol Copy.
Special thanks to all participating musicians and to Paul Gambill for technical assistance.