I shot an arrow into the air,
It fell to earth, I knew not where;
For, so swiftly it flew, the sight
Could not follow it in its flight.

I breathed a song into the air,
It fell to earth, I knew not where;
For who has sight so keen and strong,
That it can follow the flight of song?

Long, long afterward, in an oak
I found the arrow, still unbroke;
And the song, from beginning to end,
I found again in the heart of a friend.

(Longfellow, 1845)

CDs are available for 4 AROW programs! See below!

The American Recorder Orchestra of the West
AROW
an affiliate of the San Francisco Early Music Society
Invites you to attend
VIVA ITALIA!

The American Recorder Orchestra of the West embarks on a voyage to the Cradle of Western Art. It’s a pleasure cruise to Italy in which the orchestra performs Viva Italia!, a program of the many moods and styles of the Italian genius for wonderful music.

Viva Italia! features renaissance madrigals by Caccini, Donato, Gesualdo, Vecchi and Monteverdi, Palestrina’s heavenly polyphony from the high Renaissance, early baroque canzonas by Gabrieli and Frescobaldi, Vivaldi’s ever popular 18th century Double Trumpet Concerto, and arias from 19th century operas by Donizetti and Verdi.

There is more to be heard from the music of the Italian folk: a medley of well known “street songs” and another of Tarantellas whipped into a passionate frenzy. And there is music from our modern age by Respighi who honors Italy’s musical past in a suite of beautiful melodies.

AROW rehearses monthly on Saturdays (10:00 a.m.– 4 p.m.), September-February at Zion Lutheran Church, Oakland. Inquiries are welcome. See the Contact page

AROW CDs Now Available

• The French Spirit
• A Medieval Pilgrimage
• Music of the British Isles
• Music Traditions of Eastern Europe
• The Teutonic Spirit
• Fancy Free

Visit the Past Programs page for more information.