Ever since the Lutheran Church of Honolulu was remodeled extensively in the early 70s, it has been associated with early music, like ham and eggs or peanut butter and jelly. That is because of the church’s intimate, yet ambiant acoustics, are ideal for chamber instrumental and vocal ensembles.

This Saturday, March 17th at 7:30 pm, LCH will be host to Ciaramella, one of America’s leading early music ensembles, sponsored by Early Music Hawaii. According to their website, Ciaramella has been “praised for performing intricate fifteenth-century counterpoint ‘with the ease of jazz musicians improvising on a theme,’ its members are united by the conviction that every composition conceals a rich story waiting to be unlocked through historical research and speculative performance.”

Ciaramella takes its name from the Italian shawm and from a fifteenth-century song about a beautiful girl whose clothes are full of holes. When she opens her mouth, she knocks men flat.

Members of the group playing on period instruments include: Adam Gilbert, Rotem Gilbert, Doug Milliken, Erik Schmalz and Jason Yoshida. They will be playing lively songs and foot-stomping dances form the 15th and 16th centuries on instruments such as recorders, shawms, dulcian, bagpipes, slide trumpet, sackbut, lute, guitar and theorbo.

Tickets are available at the door, or may be purchased online at Early Music Hawaii website.

Here’s a YouTube video of Ciaramella to whet your appetite. It will be a fantastic concert that is not to be missed!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQBaWyPqAXE]