Stone Church Arts
802-463-3100
SEP 28: Castlebay, Celtic Duo
Castlebay has been musically weaving together the heritage of New England and the Celtic lands since 1987. Members Julia Lane and Fred Gosbee have loved and researched traditional music for most of their lives and blend history, legend and experience into their personal performance style. Their concerts feature poignant ballads sung in Lane's ethereal soprano and Gosbee's rich baritone interspersed with joyous dance tunes played on celtic harp, guitar, fiddle and tin whistle.
Stone Church Arts Concerts Fall 2013
Concerts begin at 7:30 pm and doors open at 7:00 pm
Rising star Sarah McQuaid’s voice has been likened to malt whiskey, melted chocolate and “honey poured into wine” (Minor 7th). A captivating performer, she seduces her audience with cheeky banter and stories from the road, as well as with stunning musicianship; in her hands, the guitar becomes much more than merely an accompanying instrument. Her musical output reflects her own eclectic background: Sarah was born in Spain, raised in Chicago, holds dual US and Irish citizenship, and now lives in rural England. Refusing to be pigeonholed, she spans the genres with both her beautifully crafted originals and her interpretations of material from around the globe and down the centuries.
Playing both medieval gut and early Gaelic wire harps, Duanlied brings to life the early music of the people of Scotland , Ireland and Wales . Drew Minter, countertenor and James Ruff, tenor skillfully bridge these traditions, exploring the expressive worlds of Gaelic Bards and Lowland poets. Haunting modal tunes, the lilting sounds of the Gaelic language, Scots songs and rhythmic Celtic dances combine in a concert of unearthly beauty. Harps and voices join forces to convey early poetry as it was meant to be heard.
OCT 19: Sarah McQuaid, Guitar & Vocals
NOV 2: "Am Bròn Binn – The Sweet Sorrow: music for harps and voices from the Celtic lands"
Formed in 2010, Boston Mandolins is a performing ensemble dedicated to the concert mandolin ensemble tradition. Boston Mandolins brings together the mandolin and its lower-pitched relatives, the mandola and mandocello (along with classical guitar) to explore music, both contemporary and historical, written for this most flexible and expressive genre. Boston Mandolins is in the vanguard of musical groups exploring both newly-composed and long-forgotten works for mandolin ensemble. Directed by Prof. August Watters, Boston Mandolins presents a fresh, engaging and enjoyable concert experience for audiences of classical music, traditional folk music, and fans of the mandolin.
NOV 16: Boston Mandolins Ensemble
Following in the tradition of instrumentalists of the Renaissance all over Europe who arranged polyphonic vocal music for the instruments of their time (lutes, viols, recorders), Duo Orfeo presents a program built around their arrangements for electric guitars of great sacred vocal music drawn from the whole breadth of western musical history. Pairing these innovative arrangements with less directly devotional music, we see the connections between all music that praises, wonders, fears, and exalts, whether its object be God, mystery, beauty, or love. Ultimately, it is through the music itself that the human heart speaks most directly, leaving that which is deepest unnamed.
DEC 7: "Soli Deo Gloria" with Duo Orfeo, Electric Guitar Duo
"To Warm the Winter's Night" is a Celtic mid-Winter Celebration featuring Irish Harpist/Singer Aine Minogue. This Pan-Celtic odyssey is an enchanting evening of music, storytelling, and tradition. By turns solemn and joyous, "To Warm a Winter's Night" offers an emotional and evocative musical experience and is a wonderful alternative to the usual holiday fare. "With familiar carols and wintry Celtic ballads, tales, and poetry, her holiday concerts become a lilting, lulling way to make sweet sense of the season." BOSTON GLOBE
DEC 14: "To Warm the Winter's Night" with Aine Minogue, Celtic Harp & Vocals
Stone Church Arts Concerts Summer 2013
Concerts begin at 7:30 pm and doors open at 7:00 pm unless otherwise noted.
July 12 & 13: The Vermont Improvisation Concerts
Eugene Friesen, cello, and Joel Martin, piano, the leaders of the Vermont Improvisation Intensive taking place July 11-14 in Bellows Falls, will perform as a duo on Friday night and on Saturday they will be joined by the students participating in the workshop. Cellist Eugene Friesen, “…takes the cello beyond its traditional home of the classical ensemble, opening the door to a new era for the soulful instrument" (Digital Audio). Joel A. Martin is the creator & trademark owner of Jazzical®, a marriage of classical and jazz. He has performed his innovative Jazzical compositions around the world in Paris, London, Finland, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, Russia & Kyrgyzstan.
July 19 & 20: The Music of Ireland
Famed tenor Ciaran Nagle of “The Three Irish Tenors” and fiddler extraordinaire Tara Novak, leaders of the Music of Ireland workshop taking place in Bellows Falls July 18-21, will perform Friday night and be joined by workshop participants Saturday night. Multi-instrumentalist (violin, viola, electric violin, voice) and composer/arranger Tara Novak has devoted the past 15 years of her life to studying the music of all genres – specifically Irish traditional, jazz, pop, and Americana. Part of Ciaran Nagle’s gifts as a performer is his storytelling. Nothing conveys the mindset, attitude and spirit of the Irish better than a good joke, story, or song and Ciaran is the master of them all.
3:00 PM, Sunday, July 28: Festival of Mandolin Chamber Music Concert
August Watters, a Boston area teacher and composer, and Emanuele Cappellotto, visiting from Italy, will be joined by student participants at the Festival taking place July 26-28 in Bellows Falls. August Watters is a multi-stylistic, improvising mandolinist, composer/arranger, and teacher in the Boston area. He has performed with some of the leading figures in today’s revival of this most elegant instrument, and the advancement of its musical traditions. Mandolinist Emanuele Cappellotto, was born in Citadella, Italy, in 1981, where he still lives, teaches and performs full time.
AUG 2 & 3: Creative Cello Concerts
It’s a new day for the cello! Four-time Grammy winner Eugene Friesen is active internationally as a cellist, composer, conductor and teacher. August 1-4, Eugene will be artist-in-residence in Bellows Falls teaching the Creative Cello Workshop at Immanuel Retreat Center. In these concerts, he will be performing his personal techniques including “Afro-Pizz,” a double-handed pizzicato technique featured in original pieces like “Shadowplay” and “Street Corner;” his signature multi-glissando featured in “Dances of Rasputin;” polyrhythmic col legno, etc. Original music by participating musicians will also be featured.
AUG 16 & 17: Your Rhythm, Your Life Concerts
Grammy-Award-winning master drummer Glen Velez and vocal phenomenon LOIRE (aka Lori Cotler) will be in residence in Bellows Falls leading their "Your Rhythm, Your Life" workshop at Immanuel Retreat Center. Friday night will feature them as a duo and on Saturday they will be joined by workshop participants. LOIRE has garnered an international reputation as one of the most captivating performers of our time. Using exotic rhythms as her muse, she executes with the human voice phrases that do not seem possible in their rhythmic speed and clarity. A four-time Grammy Award winner, Glen Velez is the founding father of the modern Frame Drum movement and is regarded as a legendary figure among musicians and audiences world-wide.
