Ensemble Chaconne playing 18th century court and salon music from France.

By Mina Rose Morales

Ensemble Chaconne recreated court and salon music from 1650-1750 France at the Somerville Central library on Thursday, June 9. The event was the group’s second Somerville Salon Series performance. They have one more performance left in the series called Measure for Measure: The Music of Shakespeare’s Plays on Saturday, September 17 at 2:00 p.m. Their last performance from the series will take place at the Somerville West Branch Library.

During Thursday’s performance Peter H. Bloom played the baroque flute and the baroque piccolo. Olav Chris Henriksen played the baroque guitar, baroque lute, and the theorbo. The third member of the group Carol Lewis played the viola da gamba. All their instruments are copies of the originals. “We are trying to recreate the original sounds,” said Peter.

Olav Chris Henriksen playing the baroque lute

Ensemble Chaconne is named after the chaconne dance, which is an indigenous dance. The Spanish Conquistadors liked the dance when they came to the New World and took it to Europe. The dance spread to France. The French were fascinated by the chaconne dance.

“We wanted a home,” said Henriksen. “We wanted to connect to the New World”

By calling themselves Ensemble Chaconne, the group was recognizing that they are from here, according to Henriksen.

The group enjoys carrying on music from the past. “Eighteenth century French music was very much centered around the court,” said Bloom. He added, “The courts were the patrons of the musicians.”

Bloom claims 18th century French music can be heard in popular music. For example, he says country music and New Orleans rhythm and blues has elements of 18th century French music. Ensemble Chaconne are also carrying on 18th century French music.