The “Patriots Week Colonial Ball”, sponsored by the Old Barracks Museum, returns December 29th 2023 at The Historic Masonic Temple 100 Barrack Street in Trenton, New Jersey. The Colonial Ball [running from 7 to 10 pm ] is your chance to mingle with the re-enacting soldiers of The Battle of Trenton (December 1776) and enjoy their favorite social dances. You’ll be whisked away into the past as you learn the dance steps from Sue Dupre dance mistress, while English and small flute player John Burkhalter of The Practitioners of Musick, Timothy O’Connor playing double bass, violinist Ridley Enslow, and Ann Enslow playing hammered dulcimer perform the appropriate period music.
Advanced tickets are required. Please visit the Old Barracks website for details of the “Colonial Ball” http://www.barracks.org
On Saturday, October 28th 2023 The Practitioners of Musick participated in the “Harvest Festival” at historic Morven Museum & Garden in Princeton, New Jersey. Morven [meaning “big hill” in Gaelic] is recognized as a National Historic Landmark. Many visitors were able to Fall back in time and celebrate the harvest with music and activities for the whole family at Morven rebuilt in 1758 and home to Richard Stockton (1730-1781) one of the five New Jersey Signers of the Declaration of Independence July 4th 1776. The 2023 “Harvest Festival”, the first in the aftermath of the Covid -19 pandemic, also marked the first ever partnership with the Guild for Early Music of which the Practitioners of Musick ensemble is a founding member. Following the Practitioners performance audience members, including a number of children, were invited to try the harpsichord that was indeed for all a novel experience eagerly and enthusiastically received. One boy enthralled auditors with his playing of a Domenico Scarlatti sonata. He had never played a harpsichord before.
