On Sunday 9 October, the German Protestant Church in Boulaq will hold a concert incorporating both its newly-renovated harpsichord and a baroque violin.

The concert will be a musical trip through the music of 17thand 18thcentury Europe, with compositions by Castello, B. Storace, H.I.F. von Biber, L. Marchand and G. F. Handel to be performed.

Saale Fischer, a newly-graduated harpsichordist from Tallinn, Estonia who received the post of organist at the German Protestant Church in Cairo last year, will perform on the harpsichord, an instrumentwhich she found under a pile of spare chairs and dust in one of the dark corners of the church. Apparently unused and left untuned for years, this will be the first time that the harpsichord, which has been restored, will be used in concert.

Ingrid Richter, a baroque violinist from Germany who moved to live and work in Egypt in January 2011 will also perform during the event.

As Fischer explains: “The difference between modern and baroque violin may not be as visible as that between a harpsichord and modern piano, but in order to create a well-balanced sound and interpretation for baroque music, the advantages of the baroque violin are enormous. Using the gut strings and a lighter and different-shaped bow, the sound is softer and the instrument gives more space for fine articulation and various acoustic colours.”

The German Protestant Church in Boulaq was opened in 1912 and is known for its organ. Unfortunately, the historic organ has been mute for many years and needs to be restored by experts. This costly project is hoped to be completed by the centennial celebration of the founding of the Church in Boulaq, planned for April 2012.

The concert has no admission fees but donations to the Church by attendees are encouraged, and funds collected will be used for the restoration of the organ.

The concert will be onSunday, 9 October at 7pm, in theGerman Protestant Church in Galaa Street, Cairo.

https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/22680.aspx