Fresno City College was taken back in time to the 17th century, on the night of March 8, when Agave Baroque performed for a humble-in-size but spellbound audience in the auditorium of the Old Administration Building.

Agave Baroque consists of violinist Aaron Westman, Flemish harpsichordist JungHae Kim, viola de gamba player Shirley Hunt, and Baroque guitarist and FCC instructor Dr. Kevin Cooper.

Founded in 2008, Agave Baroque has performed in venues from the Bay Area to New York City, and FCC was host to their “Friends of Ferdinand” concert.

The music performed represented the work of Baroque composers from throughout Europe, including that of the Holy Roman Emperor of the concert’s namesake. The instruments and equipment were authentic and accurate to the times, and included a more than 300-year-old violin.

In between songs, the performers further educated the audience by explaining the stories behind the music, composers, and the instruments played. And after each song was performed, they had to tune and retune their equipment, but each succeeding song made the brief wait worthwhile.

In showcasing each member, the band was able to display the full range of emotion and and feel to the Baroque era, doing it complete justice.

Among the most significant of moments, for example, was JungHae Kim’s solo performance on the Flemish harpsichord, in which the crutches-bound musician played alone onstage to show the beauty of her instrument, the other members standing by the audience in visible awe.

Further highlighting the entire show were the hypnotic solos of Westman’s violin, resurrecting the composers of the time and giving a personality to the pieces.

In Agave’s rendition of Froberger’s “Lament on the Death of Ferdinand III,” Westman’s touching violin was able to tell the story of the Habsburg prince’s tragic passing, race to the clouds, and elation in heaven. All this was done without a single word embedded in the song.

Accuracy to history and attention to every beautiful detail was laid out in Agave Baroque’s performance, an experience forever impressed on those who viewed it. It was a privilege to all those in attendance, and much is owed to Dr. Cooper for bringing his fellow players to FCC for a night of fine music and time travel.