Bach revisited

Joined by dozens of avid local fans, Fullerton Friends of Music hosted the opening show of its 51st annual season of free concerts at the Sunny Hills High School Performing Arts Center last Sunday.

Audiences enjoyed an exciting afternoon of classical baroque songs performed live by Bach's Circle Baroque Ensemble

Some of the musicians in the ensemble are also members of argueably some of the finest establishments of LA, such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the California Institute of the Arts.

The ensemble swooned the crowd with an array of carefully selected songs, starting with George Frederic Handel's "Concerto a Quattro in D Minor," followed by three pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach, and then concluding with Antonio Vivaldi's "Concerto in D Major."

The musicians kept the show entertaining with informative and humorous comments about the composres and their pieces. 

"They were very green folks," said Elizabeth Baker, violinist of Bach's Circle. "They reused [and] recycled. Many Baroque composers were known to borrow from other composers' music."

A non-profit organization started in the home of founder Beulah Strickler, FFM has been providing local residents with seasons of free chamber music for the past 50 years.

"We bring musicians from all over the world," said Lynn Rogers, president of FFM. 

"People will go to concerts like tonight's to hear the same group and pay $60 to $70. [It] is the only chamber music group in Orange County now that doesn't charge. Anyone can just walk in and listen to it without paying anything."

Over the years, the organization has been able to gain the support of the Employees' Community Fund of Boeing California, the Rotary Club of Fullerton, the City of Fullerton, and many private sponsors.

With their income based purely on donations, the organization has felt the negative impacts of the downturn in the economy as they were forced to pull funds from the reserve they had collected over the years, but there is growing concern over its depletion.

"We hope that what [the audiences] hear, they like and be enough that they will want to be a part of it and help support financially to bring these musicians here," Rogers said. "It's the best keptsecret in Fullerton."

Although students like Jeanine Rodriguez, who attended the concert as an assignment for her music appreciation class, do appear occasionally, there is worry over the lack of a younger crowd.

"I think today's youth needs to be introduced to the classics of many hundreds of years ago," Rogers said. "All of what they are playing now, evolved from the original. We're hoping to get some of the younger people to start coming and bring this back because it is beautiful music."

With the persistent help and encouragement from its patrons and audiences, FFM has been able to continue to provide the Fullerton community with amazing art. 

"There is a lot of fan support," Ponce said. "These people come to every concert. People are mising some great afree concerts here and a chance to help." 

"It's just great classsical music that is brought to the community for free. It can't get any better."

Concerts will be held at the Sunny Hills High School Performing Arts Center at 3 p.m. Dec. 6, Jan. 17, Feb. 28 and Apr. 25. For more information about upcoming concerts, call (714) 529-7785.