Ed Martin performs on lute and vihuela

Edward Martin, adjunct professor of lute at The College of St. Scholastica, will present a recital at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 18, in the third-floor Music Hall in Tower Hall on the St. Scholastica campus. The concert is free and open to the public.

The program will feature music for solo German baroque lute. Martin will be joined by vihuelist Phil Rukavina to perform Italian duets on vihuelas da mano, early Renaissance instruments played in Spain and Italy.

Featured composers include Johann Gottfried Conradi, Francesco Canova da Milano, and David Kellner.

Very little is known about the music of Conradi; in fact, it is unclear if he is the composer of the pieces in his book, "Neue Lautenstucke" (1724). "Whether he was the composer or merely the publisher," said Martin, "he has presented some of the most beautiful music ever composed for baroque lute. Recent research has provided us with more knowledge of the man and his music."

Da Milano was a virtuoso Italian lutenist and composer of the Renaissance. He was heralded throughout Italy and Europe and was the foremost lute composer of his time, given the title "Il Divino." He left several manuscripts of music for the lute.

Kellner spent his creative life in Germany and Stockholm as organist and bell ringer. He left only two works; one a musical theory book and the other a collection of 16 pieces for the German baroque lute (1747). His style is bold and his works resemble those of J.S. Bach.

At the event Martin will release his new highly acclaimed solo baroque lute CD, "Allemande," containing works of Conradi and Kellner.

For more information, contact the St. Scholastica Music Department at (218) 723-6194.