The 2025-26 season of Early Music Afternoons continues Sunday, November 16, 2025, with a concert featuring sonatas and suites for two baroque lutes, performed by lutenists Timothy Burris and Olav Chris Henriksen. Burris and Henriksen will play duos by well-known and lesser-known German composers, including Handel, Baron, Gleim, Lauffensteiner, and Falckenhagen. The concert will take place at 3:00 pm at the Somerville Museum, One Westwood Road (at Central St.), Somerville, MA. Admission is $30 general admission, $25 students and seniors, $20 Museum members. Tickets may be purchased in advance at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gallant-lutes-duos-from-the-german-baroque-tickets-1758327026469? or at the door. Street parking is available, and the Museum is ADA compliant. For further information, call (617) 666-9810 or go to https://www.somervillemuseum.org/calendar-events
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the lute was a favorite solo instrument throughout Europe, but by the 1720’s, it had lost favor in France, England and Italy, while in Austria, Poland and the German states it remained popular in aristocratic circles until Mozart’s time. Much of the best solo music, as well as chamber music (including lute duos), was composed in this era. Lute music moved away from the style brisé (broken style) that had been common in the 17th century, toward a lighter “galant” style. Come hear a very special program of beautiful and seldom-heard music, including a duet by Falckenhagen, a suite by Baron, a concerto by Gleim, a pastoral symphony by Handel (you may recognize the tunes!), and a sonata by Lauffensteiner.
TIMOTHY BURRIS has performed throughout Europe and the US, both as a soloist and an accompanist. He has appeared in concert with such esteemed artists as the mezzo Jennifer Lane and the keyboardist Robert Hill, as well as under the baton of Peter Schreier and René Clemencic, among others. He teaches at the Portland Conservatory of Music and Colby College, and he was the founder and director of Portland, Maine’s Early Music Festival. OLAV CHRIS HENRIKSEN, acclaimed throughout Europe and North America as a soloist on lutes, theorbo and early guitars, has performed and recorded with the Boston Camerata, Handel & Haydn Society, Waverly Consort, Boston Baroque, Emmanuel Music, Ensemble Chaconne, and Musicians of the Old Post Road, among others. He has performed and lectured frequently at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, playing musical instruments from the Museum’s collection.
