Baroque festival returns for year 19

The Quinn's Hot Springs Resort Paradise Hall Event Center came alive for three nights as returning musicians took the stage for the annual Montana Baroque Music Festival (MBMF). The musical genre known as Baroque has been around since the 17th century. The period encapsulates music, dance, architecture, art and writing. The idea comes from the Portuguese who used the word "barocco" meaning irregular pearl or stone symbolizing the cultural art movement that took place from the early 1600s to mid-1700s. "There is dramatic motion that is exaggerated by clear and easily interpreted form," as described on the baroque wikipedia website.

The 19th annual Montana Baroque Music Festival, "From Europe to Paradise," at Quinn's Hot Springs Resort was directed by Adam LaMotte, artistic director. LaMotte is well known throughout the country as a leader of both period and modern ensembles. He was nominated for a 2012 Grammy Award, as part of the El Mundo baroque ensemble. As artistic director for the Montana Baroque Festival, LaMotte gathers world-class musicians to rural Montana. In 2018 he founded the Amadeus Chamber Orchestra in his hometown of Portland, Oregon. LaMotte has been directing the MBMF for 19 years.

"Baroque is one of the biggest events of the year." general manager Denise Moreth said. Each of the three nights of performance had an audience of well over 100 people.

Carrie Krause, a violinist from Bozeman, delighted the audience by playing her 1740 violin. She hasn't named it but "It is the sister to Mozart's violin," Krause said. This marks her 14th year at the festival. She has played with baroque ensembles across the country and on numerous international series. In Bozeman, Krause is concertmaster of the Bozeman Symphony and is founder of Baroque Music Montana.

The audience had people from western states including Oregan, Idaho, Washington and Montana. Many of them show up every year, according to Moreth. People who booked rooms for the three-day event are often returning customers. One couple from Missoula brought their grandchildren to the Thursday evening performance. It was their first time attending. "I love this so far," Bennett Graf, age 9 from Belgrade, said during intermission. " I love the nyckelharpa," he added.

Victoria Gunn introduced and played solo on the intriguing Swedish instrument, the nyckelharpa. It is over 600 years old. The nyckelharpa sound is associated with Norse gods and secular life in the nordic land. Its name "nyckel," Swedish for keys, and "harpa," the collective name for stringed instruments, describes the build. There are 37 keys that are pressed to change the sound of the strings. It looks like a big fiddle with a wooden keyboard on the end of the neck.

Pippi Crowder from Thompson Falls attended Wednesday evening with her dad James and her grandparents Bob and Pat Crowder, also from Thompson Falls. "One of the ladies played this crazy instrument that was violin-like with strings and keys," Pippi said after the performance. "I really like viking music. Her music sounded like that."

Gunn performed on period instruments as first violist in Cologne, Germany, for four years prior to joining the Portland Baroque Orchestra as principal violist. This marks Gunn's 16th year at the MBMF.

The musicians stay at the resort as well.

"Coming to the festival here at Quinn's is like a family reunion," Gregory Ewer said of his 17th year performing.

Ewer, from Oregon, has been hailed by The New York Times for his "refinement and spirit." He is also the founder and artistic director of 45th Parallel, a highly acclaimed chamber music series founded in 2009. It features music from the Pacific Northwest.

Ewer entertained the audience with his violin, both baroque style and as part of a special surprise performance with guitarist John Lenti as they did an American fiddle and guitar number.

Lenti's small guitar with a big sound and his big guitar-like lute family theorbo added to the strings part of the performances. The theorbo, a six-foot-tall instrument of the 17th century, along with his baroque guitar, have been the cornerstone of a career with the Metropolitan Opera, symphony orchestras and many baroque ensembles that include Baroque Music Montana. As a friend of Krause, Lenti feels fortunate to be able to play with her and Baroque Music Montana. "I am so happy that Carrie invited me here," Lenti, from Seattle, said during his duo performance Thursday evening with Krause. This is his seventh year performing at the festival.

The newest member of the ensemble is Andrew Harmon, also from Oregon. He is a double bass performer. Harmon teaches in the Portland area and plays with the Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra as well as several others. Harmon founded the Chicago Bach ensemble and has a list of experiences throughout the state of Illinois.

His daughter Estere enjoys accompanying her father on these trips to Quinn's. " I like being here. The swimming and my bed are the best!" She also enjoys visiting with the staff and other musicians. This was Harmon's third year attending the festival.

Ten-year veteran of the Paradise festival is Sophie Lariviere from Montreal, Canada. She has been a member and co-artistic director of Ensemble Caprice since 1997. Based in Montreal but originating in Germany, the group's interpretation of Baroque music offers a variety of albums such as Salsa Baroque, and Gloria! Vivaldi's Angels.

Lariviere's flute music adds a lilt to her expression. Her music has taken her throughout Canada, the Middle East, Europe and the U.S. She has several recording projects to add to her repertoire.

The flute that Lariviere plays, like herself, is paired with her husband Matthias Maute and his flute, which has been to the festival 14 times. Maute is an award-winning conductor, composer, recorder and flute soloist. This year's festival was enhanced by Maute's own creation of a French Concerto "La Francia." Maute described the movement as a story being told through music. "You can hear the excitement," he told festival goers. The beginning starts out with the flute setting the scene. The theorbo and violins, cello and bass build drama. Next the soft soulful violins and cello begin as if telling of possible melodrama added to by the bass.and theorbo. Then the excitement returns when the lively flute again is the voice that the others crowd behind to create the climactic ending.

The last of the 14-year attendees is Joanna Blendulf, Sweden native, but now from Indiana. She performs on baroque cello and viols in leading period instrument ensembles across the country. Blendulf maintains a busy schedule of teaching, concerts and recording. She is the Associate Professor of Baroque cello and viola at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.

"The fest is typically the first week of August," Moreth stated. To book rooms and/or tickets, contact Quinn's. Next year's dates will be August 6-8, 2024. Lodging packages are available at http://www.quinnshotsprings.com.