summer sundays

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June 28, 2pm - Norbert Dams

July 19, 2pm
Jose Lezcano

July 26, 2pm
Back Bay Guitar Trio

August 2, 2pm
Nancy Knowles

August 16, 2pm
Frank Wallace and Friends

A summer concert series sponsored by Gyre Music and the Hillsborough Center Congregational Church.
June 13
June 10

summersundays concert series

Gyre Music presents a new concert series, summersundays (Frank Wallace, director), at the historic Hillsborough Center Congregational Church in Hillsborough NH.  All concerts are at 2pm, free admission; donations to help maintain this delightful country church are greatly appreciated.  Call 917 693-5603 for more information.  See directions below.

The 2009 concerts:

  • June 28, German guitarist Norbert Dams
  • July 19, Jose Lezcano, guitar with guest Colin Isotti
  • July 26, Back Bay Guitar Trio
  • August 2, soprano/poet Nancy Knowles reads and sings
  • August 16, Frank Wallace and Friends

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June 28, 2pm Norbert Dams, German guitarist Love and Tears Guitarist Norbert Dams from Germany performsMusic from the Golden Age of the Classical Guitar in Paris and ViennaParis and Vienna were two major political, financial and cultural centers in Europe in the 19th. Century. The growing power of the middle-class due to the changes of the French Revolution (1789 - 1799) was a perfect foundation for the guitar, that turned out to be a most popular instrument among amateur musicians. They were fans of travelling virtuosos like Mauro Giuliani, Fernando Sor, Ferdinando Carulli… to mention just a few.Norbert Dams – guitarist, producer, publisher and more from Germany takes us on a musical journey into the late 19th century. Francesco Molino, Matteo Carcassi and Ferdinando Carulli represent the Italian Style in Paris. Norbert Dams puts lots of efforts into the rediscovery of the forgotten repertoire of the guitar. Simon Molitor and Anton Diabelli were two major guitar-personalities in Vienna. Their music is seldom performed nowadays. In this programme parts from Sonata op. 15 by Molitor and a Sonata by Anton Diabelli will finish the first part of the programme.Rudolf Süss is another forgotten composer from Vienna. His Lyrische Suite will be the opener of the second half. Liebeslied by Johann Kaspar Mertz (Vienna) and the Spanish composer Fernando Sor with Fantasie elegiaque op. 59 (Paris) will connect the programme‘s Title musically.Norbert Dams has performed in many European countries. His recordings cover music from the Renaissance up to his own modern works. This concert will be performed on a period instrument and Dams will as well talk about the composers and their life and music.

June 28, 2pm Norbert Dams, German guitarist

Love and Tears

Guitarist Norbert Dams from Germany performs
Music from the Golden Age of the Classical Guitar in Paris and Vienna

Paris and Vienna were two major political, financial and cultural centers in Europe in the 19th. Century. The growing power of the middle-class due to the changes of the French Revolution (1789 - 1799) was a perfect foundation for the guitar, that turned out to be a most popular instrument among amateur musicians. They were fans of travelling virtuosos like Mauro Giuliani, Fernando Sor, Ferdinando Carulli… to mention just a few.

Norbert Dams – guitarist, producer, publisher and more from Germany takes us on a musical journey into the late 19th century. Francesco Molino, Matteo Carcassi and Ferdinando Carulli represent the Italian Style in Paris. Norbert Dams puts lots of efforts into the rediscovery of the forgotten repertoire of the guitar. Simon Molitor and Anton Diabelli were two major guitar-personalities in Vienna. Their music is seldom performed nowadays. In this programme parts from Sonata op. 15 by Molitor and a Sonata by Anton Diabelli will finish the first part of the programme.

Rudolf Süss is another forgotten composer from Vienna. His Lyrische Suite will be the opener of the second half. Liebeslied by Johann Kaspar Mertz (Vienna) and the Spanish composer Fernando Sor with Fantasie elegiaque op. 59 (Paris) will connect the programme‘s Title musically.

Norbert Dams has performed in many European countries. His recordings cover music from the Renaissance up to his own modern works. This concert will be performed on a period instrument and Dams will as well talk about the composers and their life and music.

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Norbert Dams at Studio 99 in Nashua

Saturday, June 27, 8:00 pm

tickets at the door:  $12; students $5

See Studio 99 listing

map/directions/GPS
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July 19 at 2pm — José Lezcano from Keene State College PRELUDE by student of Prof. Lezcano, Colin Isotti of Antrim Described by the New Millennium Guitar Magazine as “a superb guitarist as well as a first-rate composer and arranger” José Manuel Lezcano has captivated audiences on four continents. His programs featuring traditional and Latin American repertory, and his own original compositions have taken him as recitalist, collaborative musician, and concerto soloist from Carnegie Recital Hall and the North-South Consonance Series in New York City to major venues and festivals in Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Brazil, China, the Czech Republic and Germany. Born in Havana, Cuba in 1960, Lezcano was invited to join the faculty of Keene State College in New Hampshire in 1991, where he is Professor of Music and teaches courses in guitar, music theory, and Latin American music; he directs the Guitar Orchestra and Latin American ensemble.  Read more by clicking on the picture. Dr. Lezcano’s PROGRAM Duo in G     Ferdinando Carulli Jose Lezcano and Colin Isotti, guitars Variations on a theme by Mozart, op. 9     Fernando Sor Coli Isotti, guitar Danza del Altiplano     Leo Brouwer (b. 1939) Tres Retratos de Goya     Jose Manuel Lezcano La Familia Real Antonia Zarate El Guitarrista Ciego Fandanguillo     Joaquín Turina (1882-1944) Num Pagoda em Planaltina     Marco Pereira (1955) Intermission Two Preludes Heitor     Villa-Lobos (1887-1959) Wainscot Pond     Toru Takemitsu (1930-1996) La Catedral     Agustin Barrios Mangoré (1885-1944) Preludio Andante Religioso Allegro Solemne Choros de Juliana     Marco Pereira Sons de Carillhoes     Joao Pernambuco (1883-1947) Sevilla     Isaac Albeniz (1860-1909)

July 19 at 2pm — José Lezcano

from Keene State College

PRELUDE by student of Prof. Lezcano, Colin Isotti of Antrim

Described by the New Millennium Guitar Magazine as “a superb guitarist as well as a first-rate composer and arranger” José Manuel Lezcano has captivated audiences on four continents. His programs featuring traditional and Latin American repertory, and his own original compositions have taken him as recitalist, collaborative musician, and concerto soloist from Carnegie Recital Hall and the North-South Consonance Series in New York City to major venues and festivals in Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Brazil, China, the Czech Republic and Germany. Born in Havana, Cuba in 1960, Lezcano was invited to join the faculty of Keene State College in New Hampshire in 1991, where he is Professor of Music and teaches courses in guitar, music theory, and Latin American music; he directs the Guitar Orchestra and Latin American ensemble.  Read more by clicking on the picture.

Dr. Lezcano’s PROGRAM

Duo in G     Ferdinando Carulli
Jose Lezcano and Colin Isotti, guitars

Variations on a theme by Mozart, op. 9     Fernando Sor
Coli Isotti, guitar

Danza del Altiplano     Leo Brouwer (b. 1939)
Tres Retratos de Goya     Jose Manuel Lezcano
La Familia Real
Antonia Zarate
El Guitarrista Ciego
Fandanguillo     Joaquín Turina (1882-1944)
Num Pagoda em Planaltina     Marco Pereira (1955)

Intermission

Two Preludes Heitor     Villa-Lobos (1887-1959)
Wainscot Pond     Toru Takemitsu (1930-1996)
La Catedral     Agustin Barrios Mangoré (1885-1944)
Preludio
Andante Religioso
Allegro Solemne
Choros de Juliana     Marco Pereira
Sons de Carillhoes     Joao Pernambuco (1883-1947)
Sevilla     Isaac Albeniz (1860-1909)

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July 26 at 2pm  — The Back Bay Guitar Trio “The Back Bay Guitar Trio can conjure a sweet choir of angels or rip into the strings with the percussive fervor of a jazz drummer.”Karen Campbell from The Boston GlobeTheir new CD release, “The Journey”, showcases the group’s wide stylistic range and includes; transcriptions of Debussy, Brahms, Gershwin, Prokofiev and Brubeck; Latin American compositions from Paulo Bellinati and Astor Piazzolla; trio arrangements by John Duarte, Heinrich Albert, and Paul Hindemith; and many surprises including 10-string guitar, bottleneck slide, and harmonica! The Back Bay Guitar Trio bring the energy, excitement, and humor of their live performances to life on “The Journey”.

July 26 at 2pm  — The Back Bay Guitar Trio

“The Back Bay Guitar Trio can conjure a sweet choir of angels or rip into the strings with the percussive fervor of a jazz drummer.”
Karen Campbell from The Boston Globe

Their new CD release, “The Journey”, showcases the group’s wide stylistic range and includes; transcriptions of Debussy, Brahms, Gershwin, Prokofiev and Brubeck; Latin American compositions from Paulo Bellinati and Astor Piazzolla; trio arrangements by John Duarte, Heinrich Albert, and Paul Hindemith; and many surprises including 10-string guitar, bottleneck slide, and harmonica! The Back Bay Guitar Trio bring the energy, excitement, and humor of their live performances to life on “The Journey”.

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THE BACK BAY GUITAR TRIO PROGRAM

THE BACK BAY GUITAR TRIO

Frevo - Ciranda - Ponteio                         Celso Machado (b. 1959)
First Arabesque                                      Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Rondo                                                   Paul Hindemith (1895-1963)
L’Evasion                                               Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992)
Intermezzo in A major                              Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Baiao de Gude                                        Paulo Bellinati (b. 1950)
Eu te Amo                                             Antonio Carlos Jobim (1927-1994)
A Furiosa                                              Paulo Bellinati (b. 1950)

INTERMISSION

Riverboat Suite                                    John Duarte (1919-2005)
Lieutenant Kije Suite Op. 60                    Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953)
Sonata #3 in A Dur                                Heinrich Albert (1870-1950)
Drunken Marionette (World Premiere)        John Mason (b.1963)
Trimorph I (USA Premiere)                      Theodor Kohler (b. 1974)
Prelude #2                                          George Gershwin (1898-1937)
Blue Rondo ala Turk                               Dave Brubeck (b. 1920)

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August 2 at 2pm  -  Nancy Knowles reads and sings from her dramatic memoir, The Girl in the Moon, a one-woman show, accompanied by Frank Wallace, guitar. Poetry by Knowles, music by Wallace. Mezzo-soprano and poet Nancy Knowles has a longstanding reputation for her skillful interweaving of song, poetry and drama both in concert with Duo LiveOak and in her own solo shows.  “Knowles’ exceptionally beautiful soprano carried the evening in song and declaimed poetry…” —The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette The Girl in the Moon is a multi-dimensional dramatic piece about the healing power of art.  It tells the story of a woman who paints her way through multiple tragedies with spirit and humor, well into her nineties. Original score (16 songs with classical guitar) by Frank Wallace.  Her poetry has been set to music in Between Light and Dark the Spirit Dances (2005) six songs for mezzosoprano, baritone and classical guitar by Ed Mascari and in several song cycles by Frank Wallace.  Knowles has two blogs:  nancy knowles abstract, a new one just for her abstract photography and poems, and Divine Mischief, a wider ranging blog that also includes music.  Duo LiveOak’s CD Woman of the Water, includes three settings of Nancy’s poems.  More info at nancyknowles.com or duoliveoak.com.

August 2 at 2pm  -  Nancy Knowles

reads and sings from her dramatic memoir, The Girl in the Moon, a one-woman show, accompanied by Frank Wallace, guitar. Poetry by Knowles, music by Wallace.

Mezzo-soprano and poet Nancy Knowles has a longstanding reputation for her skillful interweaving of song, poetry and drama both in concert with Duo LiveOak and in her own solo shows.  “Knowles’ exceptionally beautiful soprano carried the evening in song and declaimed poetry…” —The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Girl in the Moon is a multi-dimensional dramatic piece about the healing power of art.  It tells the story of a woman who paints her way through multiple tragedies with spirit and humor, well into her nineties. Original score (16 songs with classical guitar) by Frank Wallace.  Her poetry has been set to music in Between Light and Dark the Spirit Dances (2005) six songs for mezzosoprano, baritone and classical guitar by Ed Mascari and in several song cycles by Frank Wallace.  Knowles has two blogs:  nancy knowles abstract, a new one just for her abstract photography and poems, and Divine Mischief, a wider ranging blog that also includes music.  Duo LiveOak’s CD Woman of the Water, includes three settings of Nancy’s poems.  More info at nancyknowles.com or duoliveoak.com.

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August 16 at 2pm  -  Frank Wallace and Friends See the program here. Frank Wallace, artistic director of SummerSundays, performs on his incredible ten-string guitar by Stephen Connor with Duo LiveOak partner Nancy Knowles, guest artist August Watters, who will talk about the history of the mandolin as a classical instrument and play several masterpieces for mandolin solo, and local two other local guitarists: graduate of Keene State College Michael Dillon, who will play two Wallace compositions from Harlequin in Love:  On the Sol in Mi and He Flees, as well as an origianl piece; and Tim Dowling of Antrim. You can read more about Wallace’s compositions at his blog or at www.gyremusic.com.

August 16 at 2pm  -  Frank Wallace and Friends

See the program here.

Frank Wallace, artistic director of SummerSundays, performs on his incredible ten-string guitar by Stephen Connor with Duo LiveOak partner Nancy Knowles, guest artist August Watters, who will talk about the history of the mandolin as a classical instrument and play several masterpieces for mandolin solo, and local two other local guitarists: graduate of Keene State College Michael Dillon, who will play two Wallace compositions from Harlequin in Love:  On the Sol in Mi and He Flees, as well as an origianl piece; and Tim Dowling of Antrim.

You can read more about Wallace’s compositions at his blog or at www.gyremusic.com.

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Press Release

Contact: Frank Wallace, 603 588-6121 or cell 917 693 5603; wallacecomposer@gmail.com; for more information, or visit the series blog at
http://summersundays.tumblr.com

Summer Concerts Feature NH Guitarists

Gyre Music presents summersundays, a concert series of great guitar music at the scenic Hillsborough Center Congregational Church on Sunday afternoons at 2pm, June 28 - August 16.  Featuring performers from New Hampshire, the series will open with a special concert by German guitarist, publisher, and composer Norbert Dams on June 28 at 2pm.  Dams’ program will feature rare masterpieces of the 19th century.  Other performers include, on July 19, Jose Lezcano, head of the guitar and theory departments at Keene State College playing Latin American and original music; on July 26, professor of music from Dartmouth and UNH David Newsam performs with his Back Bay Guitar Trio; on August 2 Nancy Knowles will read and sing from her one woman show The Girl in the Moon, accompanied by Frank Wallace on guitar. On August 16 Wallace and Knowles, known as Duo LiveOak, will be joined by August Watters, professor of mandolin and theory at Berklee College of Music and other guests . Advanced students of the various performers will join their teachers on stage.

Admission is free for all concerts, though donations are gratefully accepted to benefit the maintenance fund of the Church.  Programs, photos and stories about the performers and venue can be found online at www.summersundays.tumblr.com.  Hillsborough Center Congregational Church (HCCC) is a perfect venue for guitar.  The acoustics are stunning, the surroundings of the 18th century village breathtaking, perfect for a picnic on the green before the concert, and the drive well worth it with lovely farms and orchards surrounding the area.  Sissi Shattuck, Music Director of the Church, says, “Music has been an integral part of worship at Hillsborough Center Congregational Church by expressing ‘that which cannot be put into words and cannot remain silent’ (Victor Hugo).”

The first concert by Norbert Dams, visiting from Germany, will feature a beautiful 19th century guitar in the music of that period.  Dams is a passionate proponent of rare masterpieces, both modern and from the past.  He has performed in many European countries and his recordings cover music from the Renaissance up to his own modern works.  Dams will talk about the composers and their life and music.  Norbert, whose selflessness in promoting contemporary classical guitar music often includes bold programming ideas, is the producer and founder of Daminus Records.

DIRECTIONS: from the main intersection in downtown Hillsborough (the only stoplight) go north on School St. which  becomes Center Rd. in just .3 miles; continue 2.8 miles then veer left at the Y in the road where Center St. goes right and East Washington St. goes left; go another .1 miles and end at little White Church on right as you go thru the village.  Gibson’s Pewter shop is on the left right before the church and the whole village is at the top of the hill you have been climbing - if you start to go down hill, you’ve just missed it.