Neapolitan Music Society Master Class

"Reconstructing the Legacy of the Lost Music Of Naples"

Albany High School
March 15-26, 2010

The Neapolitan Music Society, through generous grants from SEFCU and The Albany Fund for Education, will bring the Neapolitan Masters of XVIII century to our new partner, Albany High School.

The Albany High School Orchestra will participate in a two week Neapolitan Master Class and concert with the Neapolitan Music Society. The Master Class will take place March 15- March 26 and culminate in an Albany premier performance of 17th- and 18th-century, Neapolitan orchestral works, March 26 or 27.

In 17th- and 18th-century Napoli, the Neapolitan schools or conservatories, trained young students in composition, voice and instrumental music. NMS replicates the same basics. Working with the students through hands-on rehearsal, performance, and intensive study of music theory, the Master Class brings the rigorous approach to music study characteristic of the eighteenth century Neapolitan conservatories. According to Longobardi, "What worked for Leonardo Leo at the Conservatorio S. Maria della Pietá dei Turchini in 1712 also works, on a smaller scale, with students today."

The Orchestra will perform selected works transcribed and elaborated by Maestros Gioacchino Longobardi and Alberto Vitolo. Today, only a few masters, specially trained in the Neapolitan style of scoring, understand how to transcribe the 200-year-old music for modern orchestra and performance.

In conjunction with the Master Class, our fund raising event, a "Night with the Maestros", will be March 21, 2010 at the home of Mimi and John O'Neill. This will be a special evening with Mº Longobardi and Mº Vitolo performing the music of the Neapolitan School and Christine Powers will perform selected vocal pieces.

Funds raised at this event will not only benefit the work of the Society but will also help us purchase violins for Albany High School. Many students are without instruments, making, therefore, the learning process extremely difficult. Maestro Longobardi, particularly sensitive to such a problem effecting young musician's lives, has started the donations with a $500.00 pledge.

The additional funds will purchase 25 full size violins including a music stand, music books and extra strings. Hilton Music Center has generously agreed to sell us these instruments and accessories for $3,500.00

Please watch the video about the Neapolitan Music Society and its work:
Uncovered Music

The Neapolitan Music Society is pleased to announce it is the recipient of a City of Austin Cultural Arts Division, Community Initiatives Grant of $2000 for FY2010.