Thank you, Kathleen Williams, for always keeping us up to date on what great events are happening at the Gloucester Meetinghouse.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 22, 2023
ANNUAL BACH BIRTHDAY CONCERT MARCH 19 FEATURES RARELY PERFORMED WORKS WITH FOUR HARPSICHORDS AND STRINGS
The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation presents a concert of rarely heard pieces for three and four harpsichords with a period string ensemble.
at the Gloucester Meetinghouse, corner of Middle and Church Streets on Sunday, March 19 at 3:30 p.m.
Four virtuoso harpsichordists will be joined by the acclaimed string ensemble ‘Arpeggione’ in a musical extravaganza to celebrate the birthday of
Johann Sebastian Bach. The harpsichordists, Elliot Figg, Frances Fitch, Lenora McCroskey, and Peter Sykes, will perform the Concerto in C-major
and Concerto in D-minor by Bach for three harpsichords and strings, the Banchetto Musicale, No. 1 by Johann Hermann Schein for strings and
harpsichord continuo, and an extremely rare performance of the Concerto in A-minor for four harpsichords alone by Bach, adapted from Vivaldi.
Members of the ‘Arpeggione’ string ensemble include Emily Hale, violin; Lisa Brooke, violin; Lauren Nelson, viola; Benjamin Swartz, cello; and
Pablo Kennedy, double bass. They perform on wonderful instruments that reproduce the sounds from the time the music was written.
The historical setting of the 1806 Meetinghouse with its concert hall acoustics provides a spacious, warm, and clear musical experience for
concert goers to enjoy these unusual and delightful works featuring multiple harpsichords.
The concert, co-sponsored by H. Woody Brock and Scobie Ward, is part of the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation’s annual Autumn-Winter-Spring Series
of concerts and events. GMF is committed to presenting musical, cultural, and civic events for the Cape Ann community that are not available anywhere else.
on the North Shore.
Tickets are available online at http://www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org or at the door. Preferred seating is $35; general seating $25; students with ID $5;
children under 12 free.
ABOUT THE GLOUCESTER MEETINGHOUSE FOUNDATION
Founded in 2015, the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation is dedicated to preserving the landmark building as a civic hub, entertainment venue,
and community center. In addition to its work to preserve the historic 1806 Meetinghouse, GMF is currently raising funds to restore Meetinghouse Green.
The GMF has received a $130,000 grant from the Community Preservation Act and a $2,000 grant from the Essex Heritage Partnership Grant Program
towards a total project goal of $340,000. Construction is scheduled to begin in fall 2023.
For more information, a full schedule of upcoming concerts and events, and to sign up for the GMF newsletter, visit http://www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org.
We thank the sponsors of the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation’s 2022-2023 Autumn, Winter, Spring Concert and Event Series:
GUARANTOR: H. Woody Brock, Patricia Roach & Robert Martin, Scobie Ward
PLATINUM: Anonymous, Peter Calkins & Susan Casey, Linzee Coolidge
GOLD: J.J. & Jackie Bell, John & Janis Bell, Karen Bell, Cape Ann Savings Bank, Susan Gray, Andrew Spindler & Hiram Butler
SILVER: JoeAnn Hart & Gordon Baird, Charles Nazarian, Patricia Poore
BRONZE: Beth Graham & William Schulz, Sandra & John Ronan, Holly Tanguay, Sarah Willwerth-Dyer and Michael Dyer
SPECIAL THANKS: Massachusetts Cultural Council, Essex County Community Foundation