Timeless Holiday Tunes
The Musica Vera Consort highlights each holiday season with unique, festive Early Music
Additional Images
Photo provided by John S. Kitts-Turner
Members of the Musica Vera Consort pose in the UF Music Building. The musicians play authentic instruments, some of which are made in the Kelischek Workshop for Historical Instruments. Front row l-r: Nina Kaharl, Jennifer Downey, Vicki Kitts-Turner, John S. Kitts-Turner, Henri Pensis. Back row: Peter Bushnell, John Monkus, Russ Moore, Geoff Gowan.
When most people think of the holidays, they think of building gingerbread houses, nibbling on peppermint sticks, wrapping presents, watching "It's A Wonderful Life" for the hundredth time and decorating a Christmas tree while listening to classic holiday tunes like "Jingle Bells."
The Musica Vera Consort specializes in that music aspect of the holidays, but in a unique way -- sharing with the Alachua County community holiday music dating back to the Renaissance, the Baroque Period and Medieval Times, via replicas of instruments played during those eras.
The first of the two holiday concerts will be Monday, Dec. 14, at the University Auditorium on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville. The second concert will be Tuesday, Dec. 15, at the Oak Hammock Retirement Center, south of campus off Williston Road.
Each performance begins at 7:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
"The music is so interesting and so popular," consort director John S. Kitts-Turner said.
The consort, which began in the mid-80s, is a group of musicians who specialize in performing Early Music throughout the year. Their holiday consorts are a December tradition.
"We perform the music upon which today's music is based," Kitts-Turner said. "You're going to hear music so old it's new to you."
Examples of the more unique pieces played at the Holiday Concerts include "Noel Nouvelet," a French holiday carol, "Peace and Fellowship," a Native American song, and "Greune Kusine," a Hanukah song. Examples of more familiar songs played include "We Wish You A Merry Christmas," "What Child Is This" and "Emmanuel."
"The music is fun and the instruments are fun," Kitts-Turner said. "It's festive and infectious."
Jennifer Downey is one of the group's musicians who is known to play instruments such as the Celtic harp and krummhorn, a j-shaped internal double-reed instrument comparable to the bagpipes. Downey said playing these instruments can be challenging but in a very unique, fun way.
"I fell in love with the music's historical quality and simplicity of the instruments," she said. Downey joined the consort by accident in 1987 at the University of Florida when the music history major enrolled in a class that feeds into the group.
Henri Pensis, station manager at WUFT-FM, is also a member of the consort. He joined in 1990 and most often plays wooden flutes and the recorder.
"It's a lot of fun," Pensis said. "It gets us back to our roots." He also said he enjoys being part of the consort because he gets to spend time among great friends and great music simultaneously.
Both Pensis and Downey agree that this "true music" reflects the simplicity and traditions of the holiday season.
"It seems to really resonate with people during the holidays because people are really interested in traditions during that time," Downey said. "I honestly don't know what could be more traditional. It certainly speaks to me." §
Sarah Henderson is a student in UF's College of Journalism. She may be contacted through the editor: editor@towerpublications.com.
