Laughing at Mortality

Celebrating their twenty-eighth season, on Saturday, March 9 and Sunday, March 10 The Goliards will perform Laughing at Mortality, a program that focuses on the years from 1346-1353, as well as the recrudescences of the plague later in the century, when the Great Pestilence, now known as the Black Death, ravaged Europe. Saturday's concert will take place at 3:00 P.M. at the Episcopal Church of St. Paul (34th and Abercorn) and Sundays' concert will be at 4:00 P.M. at the Episcopal Church of St. Francis of the Islands (590 Walthour Rd., Savannah 31401).

Just what did plague music sound like? That is really not the the purview of this production, although some of the works to be performed are definitely creepy. The fact is that this time coincides with a period of incredible beauty and optimism despite the fact that Europe would lose between a third and a half of its population. Life goes on.

Guillaume de Machaut and Francesco Landini, the two dominant figures of trecento music,will be well-represented, as will the ever-popular Anonymous.

The singers (two sopranos and a baritone in this production) will be accompanied on reproductions of instruments of the period: medieval fiddles, straight-bore recorder, positive organ and medieval hurdy gurdy.

Admission will be $20.00 (at the door) although no one will be turned away.

Category: Arts | Performing Arts | Music