photo: robertkwong.com

Our most recent activity was a series of Renaissance dances performances with music for the Vancouver Art Gallery Masquerade Fundraiser. Dancers Angela Brown, Mehlinda Heart, Janet Walker and Steve Roy were joined by musicians Anne Durenceau and Pat Unruh for an unforgettable night of revelry.

Regrettably, we are unable to present anything for a main-stage production this year due to the massive cuts to arts funding by the Provincial Liberal Government.

We hope historical enthusiasts will find some other ways to satisfy their interest in arts classical. Early Music Vancouver will continue to offer a variety of performances and summer workshops. Checkhttp://www.earlymusic.bc.ca

Pacific Baroque Orchestra may also have some activities for their upcoming season. Checkhttp://www.pacificbaroque.com/

All the very best

Catherine Lee, Artistic Director

December 6, 2008

Historical Performance Ensemble is pleased to present its 26th soiree event, "Wassail". The performers will present songs and dances of the Renaissance and lead participants in brawls, country dances and songs appropriate to the Yuletide season. Take a break from your seasonal preparations, enjoy our stirring music and have fun learning something new and exercising with us!

September 25, 2008, @ 12 Noon

The ScotiaBank Dance Centre "Discover Dance Series" and Historical Performance Ensemble present: Trabuchetto, Tombé & Twirl, a program of authentically recreated social and theatrical dances and music from the Renaissance and Baroque eras. Dancers Angela Brown, Mehlinda Heartt, Catherine Lee and Brenda Webster are accompanied by early music specialists Pat Unruh (viol and recorder) and Monica Kim (virginals). Drawing on 17th century dance choreographies from Italy, France and England, dancers will present the sensual Sarabande, sassy Baletti, and duet and solo dances from court and theatre. The performance will reveal the evolution of dance from Elizabethan through Baroque to early Ballet. A question and answer session will follow the presentation. Scotiabank Dance Centre, 677 Davie St (at Granville), Vancouver Tickets $10/$7 students, seniors and children from Tickets Tonight 604 684 2787 www.ticketstonight.ca Info: wwwthedancecentre.ca

September 2008

"Voices of the Fraser" @ Deas Island as part of "River Mania" - presented for grades 5-6 Delta school kids. "Fraser River Review" stage shows September 26, 2008 as part of "River Mania in Lander,Noon and 1 pm - presented to school kids. "Country Celebration" in Langley sponsored by Metro Vancouver, Sept 13th and 14th, 2008 10am to 5pm

October 24th, 2008

Workshop in Baroque Dance for Langley Community Music School (school show only) http://www.langleymusic.com/ "Golden Hair", a West Coast Chamber Music presentation of classical music, renaissance dance, storytelling and puppetry, October 24, 2008 noon - school show - contact WCCM for details http://www.westcoastchambermusic.org/ Light o' Love will present shows: at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, September 17, 2008 for the Noon-Hour Concert Series and September 19, 2008 at Capilano College for the Noon-Hour Concert Series. Come see them at Vancouver Community College in the first week of October (date to be announced) for a full-length concert. Light o' Love is a musical ensemble which revives Renaissance pops in concerts around Metro Vancouver. Its core musicians are Pat Unruh and Monica Kim.

2006-2008

Voices of the Fraser - The history of Deas Island comes to life!

Get to know your region in this new event offered as part of the Fraser River Feature Series. Imagine Salmon so plentiful you could just about walk across their backs.

Meet John Sullivan Deas, the black American man who settled the island and opened the Deas Island Cannery.
Sit down for tea at Burrvilla, home of one of Delta’s first settler families.
Work alongside First Nations and Chinese labourers in the cannery.
Feel the impacts of the European settlers and the Gold Rush on the inhabitants of the region.
Learn how over-fishing and lack of regulation created severe fish stock depletion and pollution in the Fraser.
Find out more about the cultural heritage of the region in which you live, and become better equipped to make decisions that impact the future of your community.
In this entertaining, interactive, walk-through theatre experience, you might just find yourself becoming part of the action!

Director: Angela Brown; Actors: Brian Leslie, Tom Tassé, James Simpson

Fraser River Review
Director: Angela Brown
Performers: Brian Leslie, Tom Tassé, James Simpson

Coho Walk
Performers: Brian Leslie, Tom Tassé, Angela Brown

School Show – Voices of the Fraser
Writer & Director: Angela Brown

2005-2009
Ladies’ Aires and Dances
Dances, Songs and commedia del’ arte material for women from the 17th C stage
Presented at the Scotiabank Dance Centre as part of Discover Dance series.
Dancer/singer/actors: Angela Brown, Mehlinda Heartt, Catherine Lee, Brenda Webster.
Musicians: Pat Unruh and Monica Kim
Programme included new material: a Spanish trio song, a Harlequino solo dance, a commedia scene, a solo Sarabande, a solo Forlana as well as one song, two instrumental pieces and four dances from our previous repertoire, plus a newly set quartet version of Mrs. Lee’s Chaconne by Catherine Lee.

2005
A Morning With Elizabeth
An original 10 minute dialogue between Elizabeth, her lady in waiting Mary and Sir Edmund Spenser interspersed with songs and dances from the Renaissance and Baroque
Performed for Artscan showcase April at the Roundhouse
Actor/dancer/singers: Angela Brown (Queen Elizabeth), Catherine Lee (Mary), Christopher Sumpton (Sir Edmund Spenser) Brenda Webster (dream dancer from the Baroque)
Musicians Pat Unruh and Monica Kim

2004
Delighting The Monarchs
Dance from Elizabeth’s Court to Louis’ Theatre 1581 – 1715
Director and Dance re-constructionist: Catherine Lee
Presented in a tour to Vancouver Island and Victoria
The Historical Performance Ensemble (6 dancers and 2 musicians) performed Renaissance dances (balletti, cascardi) instrumental music and songs, and Baroque dances (the minuet, sarabande, forlane, courante, passepied and rigaudon) instrumental music and songs in full garments of each period.
A concert format, with banter between the performers during the Renaissance period and more formal addresses to his Majesty during the Baroque to help the audience experience the different contexts of the two courts. Songs are in English and French.
Cast: Angela Brown, David Garfinkle, Mathew Good, Catherine Lee, Janet Walker, Brenda Webster
Musicians: Pat Unruh (viola da gamba, recorders) Monica Kim (harpsichord)

2003
Spirits of the Air
Theatrical Songs by Henry Purcell (duets and solos from operas and theatre works, plus several vituoso harpsichord, recorder and viola da gamba solo and group pieces by Purcell)
With new “theatre style” garments for the 2 singers, and all musicians in period garments
Singers: Catherine Lee & Susan Larkin
Musicians: Pat Unruh (viola da gamba, recorders) Monica Kim (harpsichord) Nora Rendell (recorders)

Mrs . Santlow’s Minuet and other Baroque dance and music
Instrumental music by Bach, Caix d’Hervelois, Boismortier and dances by Lully etc.
A concert with short snippets of explanation about court, etiquette, choreographies etc.
Dancers: Angela Brown, Mehlinda Heartt, Janet Walker
Musicians: Pat Unruh (viola da gamba, recorders) Monica Kim (virginals)
Host: Catherine Lee

Delighting The Monarchs
Dance from Elizabeth’s Court to Louis’ Theatre 1581 – 1715
Director and Dance re-constructor: Catherine Lee
A Cast of 12 - The Historical Dance & Music Consorts (7 dancers and 2 musicians), & Amorossi di Cosmo, performed Renaissance dances (balletti, cascardi) and Baroque dances (the minuet, sarabande, forlane, courante, passepied, and rigaudon) in full garments of each period.
The presentation elucidated (through performances & spoken text by the artistic directors) the evolution of performed dance from a primarily social pastime (of Renaissance courtiers) to an elaborate presentational display, (increasingly by professionals only) through the 18th century. A Q&A period addressed salutations, under and over garments, musical instruments, and musical and dance styles as well as social practices.

2002
The Masque Affect
A musical theatre production of Handel’s life – workshop presentation
Cast: 5 solo Baroque singers, 8 actors, 5 Baroque dancers, 8 orchestra, 8 opera chorus
Produced by Da Masque Productions, at the Centre for the Performing Arts in Vancouver
Choreography and movement coaching by HP Artistic Co-Director C.Lee from original sources.
Members of The Baroque Dance Consort performed 3 Baroque choreographies
HP Artistic Co-Director David Garfinkle starred as the nasty Theophilus Cibber

2001
Habits of the Heart
Set in France between 1750 - 1790
This play's subject is the life of Marquis de Sade and the females closest to him
Writer: Christopher Barron
Dramaturge: David Garfinkle
Musical Consultant: Pat Unruh
Director: David Gram
Actors: David Garfinkle, Angela Brown, Leslie Wilson and long standing members of GVHPS
Costumes: rented and from GVHPS wardrobe

2000
A Winter Masque
Dances and songs of the Renaissance, dances and songs of the Baroque, each set being loosely structured around the concept of a period Masque
costumes from the GVHPS with 3 new outfits by Alison Abell
Musicians: Pat Unruh, Sonja Boon, Angela Malmberg and Beth Jay
Dancers: Angela Brown, Mehlinda Heartt, Catherine Lee, Leni Robinson, Claudia Farrell, Christopher Sumpton, David Garfinkle, Daniel Lauzon

1999
Les Desmoiselles or Poison, The Actor & The Midwife
A play in which the leading actress of the early 18th century unravels her ancestry - a 17th C whodunit mixing monologues by Racine with the courtly niceties of late 17th C France
script: David Garfinkle from extensive period research
director: David Garfinkle
actors: Lee Van Paassen, Leslie Wilson, Laura di Cicco, Vanessa Le Bourdais, Karen Kennedy

1998
Monologues by Racine (summer workshop presentation)

Le Masque de Louis XIV
This is a reworked excerpt of Le Masque Canadien - 3rd draft of the poetry, emphasis: songs & dances
Six Mythological characters, 2 musicians
Broad Shouldered Falcon enlists the aid of the Gods to assist him to spread his brood through all the land, who use songs and dances to reply with varying degrees of willingness
text: Catherine Lee
dances:18th C French manuscripts
songs written & historic dance music arranged: Jackie Retzlaff
The heroic characters include The Broad Shouldered Falcon, The Fledgling, God of Rivers & Seas, Goddess of Mountains, God of Winds, Goddess of Forest & Field. performers: Wade Nott, Paul Blain, Lew Wetherall, Angela Brown, Christopher Sumpton, Catherine Lee
musicians: Jackie Retslaff, Pat Unruh
costumes by Christine Hatful, Lisa Fong & Alison Abel

1995-1996
Le Masque Canadien
6 Historical characters, 3 contemporary "Shadows", 3 period musicians
highly researched work based in Quebec, New France, July 1670
text by Catherine Lee and David Garfinkle, dramaturgical consultant John Lazarus
dances from 18th C French manuscripts, directed by Catherine Lee
songs written & historical dance music arranged by Jackie Retslaff
costumes by Christine Hatfull, Alison Abell, Lisa Fong
Furniture: 5 Candleabra, 2 period chairs, 3 stools & bencherette: Terence Van der Woude
Characters Jean Talon, first intendant New France, Governor Courcelles, Madame Grandmaison (Seigneuress of Iles d'Orleans), Madame Syvestre wife of the secretary to Jean Talon, Louis Jolliet, musician & explorer. Madame Boucher, wife: Governor Trois Rivieres, Madame D'Ailleboust, widow, former Governor. Charles Le Moyne, Sieur D'Iberville, seigneur, Montréal
Performers: Historical: Kevin Millsip, Jonathan Teague, Elizabeth Gourdeau, Ruth
Baines, David Hudgins, Leanne Jarrett, Brenda Webster, Christopher Sumpton
Shadows: Kay Huang Barnes, Danielle Beaudet Kim Collier, Megan Andrews
Musicians: Jackie Retslaff, Pat Unruh & Catherine Goheen and David Hudgins
Costumes by Christine Hatful, Lisa Fong & Alison Abel

1995
May Backwards & Forward
This is a co-production with True North Performance
18th C Dance & Song, presented at Firehall Theatre
In the Halifax salon of Monsieur & Madame Grenouille, an enthusiastic group of petty nobility entertain themselves with songs and dances in 1760.
performers: David Garfinkle, Catherine Lee, Elisabeth Gourdeau, Rosemary Speakman, Marjorie Gottschalk Trone, Christopher Sumpton, Brenda Webster and Simon Webb
musician: Jackie Retslaff
costumes by Marjorie Gottschalk Trone

1993-1994
Les Filles du Roi
This is a researched historical octet.
Set on deck of a ship just docked in Quebec, on the night before the women (sent by Louis XIV) are to disembark to meet their prospective husbands.
text written by Catherine Lee
historical dances and songs from French sources of 1660's
historical music arranged by Jackie Retslaff
costumes by Marjorie Gottschalk Trone
actor/dancer/singers: The Consort - including Elisabeth Gourdeau, Marjorie Gottschalk Trone, Alicia Read and Rosemary Speakman
musician Sarah Westwick

1991-1993
The Secular Masque
This is set as an antique performance (16th Century), performed at numerous venues including Dancing on The Edge.
text by John Dryden
songs from early to mid 17th C England
directed by Catherine Lee & David Garfinkle
costumes designed & built by Marjorie Gottschalk Trone
performers over the three years included AK Coope, Scott Gould, Kevin Millsip, Robert Maloney, Alicia Read, Marjorie Gottschalk Trone, Heather Troop, Brenda Webster
musicians Winnie Kwok and Lesley Taylor

1990-2003
Pleasures of Louis XIV
18th C duet songs, dances, characters, costumes
cast: David Garfinkle & Catherine Lee with Jackie Retslaff or Pat Unruh

1988-90
In Honor of Elizabeth R
16th C duet songs, dances, characters, costumes
cast: David Garfinkle & Catherine Lee with Jackie Retslaff or Pat Unruh
Other ensembles which have performed with Historical Performance Ensemble over the years:

Amorossi di Cosmo (formerly called Daunce Hystoria) performed between 1989 and 2004 whenever a small, professional group was called for, such as performances for schools, fundraising events like the Vancouver Symphony Lovers Ball, or festive gatherings: high school English teachers' symposia, annual company parties (Westinghouse), and community relations events (Chapters).
As well, the group has performed frequently as part of Early Music Vancouver's summer series.
Amorossi di Cosmo also joins forces with The Consorts for Dance on the Steps of the CBC, The Diamond Ball, Mission Renaissance Fair, and of course, the Soirées.
Amorossi di Cosmo has a repertoire of both Renaissance and Baroque songs as well as dances.

The Renaissance Consort and The Baroque Consort were made up of core company members, affiliated artists and apprentices who have become involved in the training programs we have offered since 1992. The Consorts may perform at schools or in fundraising events The Consorts have performed for such various events as the recorder Festival at Mount Norquay School, The Diamond Ball, Mission Renaissance Fair, the UBC 17th Century Club and they always present dances, theatre or songs for the Soirées.