Sunday, May 18, 2014, at 3:00 p.m.,Pentimento (Olav Chris Henriksen,  archlute, cittern and guitar, and Eric Haas, recorders and flutes) will offer a program of American music from 1620-1820, at the Loring-Greenough House, 12 South St, Jamaica Plain MA, as part of the Sunday Afternoon at the ‘Greenough House parlor concert series.

The history of American music parallels the history of the nation. Colonials brought the music of their homelands to the earliest permanent settlements: English in Jamestown & Plimoth, Dutch in New Amsterdam, Moravian in Bethehem. By the mid 18th century, New England composers such as William Billings and Daniel Read introduced choral music with a uniquely American sound (hymns and 'fugueing' tunes), street ballads celebrated the Boston Tea Party and Massachusetts Liberty, and New England dancing masters contributed fiddle tunes.

'Play'd in Massachusetts' is a sort of 'tasting menu' of music heard in the Bay State. Beginning with the metrical Psalms of the Bay Psalter (the earliest book printed in MA), to broadside ballads (one by Benjamin Franklin!) and English country dances, we'll include music for a Moravian wedding celebration, a duo by Anne Ford for English guitar (a wire-strung plucked instrument) and flute, songs from Boston which fueled the Revolution, and a flute sonata by the Scottish General John Reid (who had planned to retire in upstate NY until he ended up on the wrong side of the conflict).

The second half of the program will include both English imports which were performed in America (a sonata for guitar and flute of J.C. Bach and Irish & Scottish tunes set by Burk Thumoth) and music of Francis Hopkinson, the first published American-born composer. A selection of songs and instrumental pieces published in the US (including an elegy for George Washington) is framed with music performed by some of the earliest European virtuosi to tour the new nation (a duo for flute & guitar by Vidal and our transcription of a quickstep of guitarist A.T. Huerta). Some of this later repertoire may well have graced the parlour of newly built Loring-Greenough House.
    
Meet the Eric and Chris at afternoon tea following the program.

The Sunday Afternoon at the ‘Greenough House series, now in its 13th season,  recreates the atmosphere of 18th and 19th century “musical afternoons” in the 1760 Loring-Greenough House, twice monthly, October to May. Tickets are available at the door: donation $15 ($10 seniors, students and JPTC members). Space is limited; reservations are suggested—call 617-524-3158 or email lghouseconcerts@aim.com.