Page Two THE MICHIGAN DAILY Tuesday, January 13, 1970 Page Two THE MICHIGAN DAILY Tuesday, January 13, 1970 music The Pro Musica: Sine qua non theatre Phoenix rises with two productions By JIM PETERS The last time the New York Pro Musica were in Ann Arbor, they brought a whole troupe of players with them, set-up an austere stage in the sacristy of the church on State and Huron, and marveled the audience in the stiff pews with The Play of Daniel. Last night at Rackham, they accomplished the same with far less paraphernalia. There were fears two years ago that this ensemble, collect- ed in the 50's around such peo- ple as Russel Oberlin, would languish after the death of its founder Noah Greenberg. But the new musical director, John Reeves White, seems to have kept things going quite well. The group can be compared to very few; there are not many others of its size and resources in the world today. Certainly the Studio for Early Music from Munich deserves mention, but they have always been known for more academic pursuits in the area ,of Renaissance and Medieval musicology. The Pro Musica concentrates on per- formance and interpretation; and from last night's concert, one could see how devoted its members are. The program divided into six large sections, each designed to display variations in style and instrumentation. The reproduc- tions of early instruments which they used provide a rather thin patina of sound, with fretted fingerboards and small sound- ing boards on the da gamba strings and small bore wind in- struments, so ensemble strength and unity are practically sine qua non. The musicians are young, and as they began Verdelot's brief "Itala Mia" they seemed to forget their roles as concert art- ists and became friends in a col salon enjoying themselves. W The five singers continued de mi alternating with. the six instru- m *mentalists in music composed m for a Medici wedding in 1589. m Bass Arthur Burrows gave in weight to the four treble voic- es of Elizabeth Humes, soprano; mE Joan Fuerstman, mezzo; Ray co DeVoll, tenor; and Daniel Col- in lins, countertenor. Luca Mar- th enzio's "Belle ne fe natura" or featured some rough staccato, ke but the singers felt each nuance er in the nine madrigals by ha Giaches de Wert. ba Collins' solo with lute ac- wi m Beethoven in ea sit concerts E C ellist Jerome Jelinek, a profes- ~. TV RENTALS $10 per month FREE Service and Delivery --NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED--- CALL- INejacrTV Ileuntals 662-5671 SERVING BIG 10 SCHOOLS SINGE 1961 The fruitful alliance of the two theatrical repertory com- panies, the APA and Phoenix, dissolved but both are alive and well and continuing to play in Ann Arbor. The APA performed three works for audiences here last fall and the newly reacti- vated Phoenix company is head- ing to Ann Arbor this month with two new productions. The Professional Theatre Pro- gram, which hosts visiting companies here, is sponsoring the Phoenix's production of The Criminals and revival of the comedy Harvey. Harvey will star Helen Hayes and James Stewart and will play here from Feb. 1-14 before going on to New York for a run at the ANTA Theatre. Stephan Porter, who has directed notable APA productions including The Show Off and Private. Lives, will stage Harvey. The Criminals will also play in New York after its run in Ann Arbor from Jan. 26-31. The drama, by Cuban playwright- Jose Triana, deals with youth rebellion and the generation gap in terms resembling Genet's. According to Robert C. Schnit- zer, executive director of the Professional Theatre Program, the Phoenix Company is discus- sing plans for annual engage- ments at Michigan under pro- gram sponsorship. Subscriptions for Harvey and The Criminals at discounts may be obtained at the Professional Theatre Program ticket office in Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre. For information, call (313) 764-0450. Rent your Roommate with a Classified Ad - Since its separation from APIA, the company has been reactivated by producer T. Ed- ward Hambleton and director John Houseman, both of whom were involved in the alliance. "Phoenix has been a leading organization on the New York scene for many years and pro- duced scores of notable works with prominent directors and stars in past seasons," says Schnitzer. "Ann Arbor will be given the privilege of an intro- duction to the Phoenix this month and we hope it will prove a mutually happy new, affilia- tion." Subscribe To A THE MICHIGAN DAILY - / RADICAL FILM SERIES presents SALT OF THE EARTH Directed by: HERBERT BIBERMAN Starring: ROSAURA REVUELTAS, JUAN CHACON The Radical Film Series screened SALT OF THE EARTH on October 15th .. Moratorium Day. Due to all the events of that day, only a few people saw it. Since we consider it one of the most significant radical films ever made in America, "perhaps the first American peoples' film" (Leviathan) we've decided to show it again. SALT OF THE EARTH portrays the bitter struggle of New Mexican zinc miners and their families for decent working and living conditions. What begins as a walkout over safety conditions, ends in an understanding of the total dimensions of control that the mining com- pony holds over their lives. The miner's wives gain insight into their own source of oppression as they help to win at least a temporary victory in the labor struggle and begin to change their family and community roles. "Salt of the Earth is an American movie about workers, which fact alone makes it unusual. The idea that workers are people, and have conflicts and problems worthy of attention, has never impressed the American film industry. -Canadian Broadcasting Company Salt of the Earth was made in the midst of the McCarthy repression by Herbert Biberman, one of "the Hollywood unfriendly ten"-,who served a jail term for refusing to testify before HUAC in 1947. The film industry and the Federal Government did everything in their power to halt production of the film. Their comments are perhaps its best recommendation: "One of the most anti-American films ever attempted . . . no motion picture made by Communists can be good for America . .. Hollywood has gotten rid of these people." C s b -Roy M. Brewer-Hollywood American Federation of Labor Film Council filmed under Communist auspices.. . a new weapoinfor Russia .".I would do every- thing in my power to prevent this film from being shown in public theaters." -Donald L. Jackson-Rep. Col.-member of HUAC WEDNESDAY, JAN. 14th 7, 9, I 1 P.M. Admission $1 .00 CANTERBURY HOUSE 330 MAYNARD - -Y -'Daily-Sara Krulwich The artists relax with the audience after the concert rmpaniment by Christopher illiams in "Qualmusico gentil" monstrated his superb dyna- ic control in a range f r o m iddle tenor to mezzo; but I issed the excitement or rubato his performance. Part four was purely instru- ental, but perhaps the least mpetently performed. It was the four Italian dances that eir ensemble loosened, a n d. ly the percussion's accents pt the group together. Fred- izk Renz's performance of a arpsichord partita by Fresco- aldi- was expertly ornamented ith rolled chords, trills and ordents; but he was too im- ersed in his technique, and he piece, especially in t h e arly movements, lacked expres- on. The tiny "Canzon a otto, cho per Sonar" by Bastian ,hilese set krummhorn against sopranino recorder which pick- ed up the cadences of each pre- csding line. Here the instru- mentalists were in tight ensem- ble, and their timing perfect- ly accurate as the echo event- ually joined the unison group. I feel the program should have perhaps ended at this point, for the Monteverdi mad- rigais which concluded were of little historical interest. For it is, I think, the role of a "Pro Musica Antiqua" to devote itself to music and texts before the stylized times of the Late Re- naissance. At this point only competent and dedicated singers are neces- sary for a fine interpretation. But the work of interpreting and -ealizing bare scores can only be done by musicians educated in the stylistics and intricacies of early music. Monteverdi's lines were too much of a harness for these per-, formers. Already the bold in- tensity of de Wert's "Forsennata gridava" has been tempered to the sober melancholy of "0 viva fiamma." Their singing here was tight and fluent, with outstand- ing work by DeVoll and Collins in "Zefiro torna"; but I feel that there are more interesting and challenging things to be done. The task of unearthing pre- Baroque music is immense; and, fortunately today, things are moving faster than during the hundred years it took to redis- cover Bach. Musicologists and craftsman have provided the instruments, and groups such as the New York Pro Musica arc 'ising them. The squeaks and grunts of rauschpfeifes and krummhorns are becoming more and more familiar, as Purcell's line about "all the instruments of joy" slowly becomes real. We'll pay -youSO0 to try our pizza during Little Caesars sor in the music school, and Rhea Kish, well-known Ann Arbor pianist, will commemorate the 200th anniversary of Beethoven's birth by presenting two programs of his complete repertoire for cello and piano. The second concert is to be given tonight at 8 p.m. in Rackham Lec- ture Hall. Admission is free. Jelinek and Mrs. Kish have been performing together for more than X10 years, touring extensively throughout the United States and Europe. Their most recent Euro- pean tour last May included two performances in London and guest broadcasts opm the French National Radio and Belgian Na- tional Radio and Television Net- work. . r }v 1 F7- -- ~- :- SPECIA L ,iii ; ; ! I fit 12 off A..w,.l A n11_DV YOU, CINEMA GUILD American Studies Program Jan. 13, 14-Jues.- Wed. BIRTH OF A NATION Dir. D. W. Griffith, 1915 I II Griffith built a ment to the noble monu- South. Arch. Au d. 17& 662-8871. 75c. NOW 4TH WEEK James Bond o7r Is back! Storewide Clearance Saks Fifth Avenue UNIVERSITY and CO-ED SHOPS Ann Arbor MONDAY, TUESDAY, ,.a wFnrvFlnAY I just to try it, when y opening Celebration. The combination's unbeatable. the best pizza you ever tasted, plus a special price Stop by today! -t,. wnrld's best pizza 50c has come to Ann Arbor. _: r u ring our Grand it i . 1lA.r - OPENS TOMORROW edium or larger size-P-iQs-' ___---. ------t~~~ -.--- ~ 5O TIS. COUPON GOOD FOR ON rTHE PURCHASE OP AMY MEDIUM OR L.ARGEFR Pi2ZA Cou nexires January. 30, 19703 CoUacsa I I, !III