In this video presentation, the Practitioners of Musick makes a musical and historical comparison between two significant figures during the American Revolution, General and President George Washington, and George III, King of England.
Video Presentation: The Two Georges
On Saturday, November 20th at 7 PM the Rockingham Association presented The Practitioners of Musick in a virtual program entitled “Nothing More Agreeable – Music in the Washington Family”.
In a document dated June 4, 1777 General George Washington wrote, “Nothing is more agreeable and ornamental than good music”. The Practitioners concert with commentary will thus explore the agreeable and remarkable musical work of three select generations of the extended Washington family. The General, while a fine dancer and avid theater goer, is not known to have played a musical instrument of any sort. Yet he and Martha, who had received harpsichord lessons, well understood the value of music and dance as a social grace and saw to it that the children under their care received a thorough musical education. The repertory for the concert is drawn from bound volumes of 18th-century manuscript and especially printed sheet music directly associated with the Washington family sourced in Great Britain and the early Federal period in America. Global trade is the thread that connects the Washingtons, their friends and associates, and a significant fueling aspect of this global trade was, in humanitarian terms, the regressive slave trade. The wealth accrued from the slave trade was channeled into the social fabric of the elite and gentry. Music, singing and dance were also part of the enslaved and free black experience expressing the daily life of labor and spiritual belief and will be addressed as well.
The Practitioners of Musick, John Burkhalter, English & Small flutes, and harpsichordist Donovan Klotzbeacher have presented or supported scholarly programs under the auspices of The National Trust of Great Britain, The US National Park Service, Colonial Williamsburg and The Princeton University Art Museum amongst many other local, state, national and international entities.
This virtual event was sponsored by The Rockingham Association and the NJ Division of Parks and Forestry, and is made possible with the generous assistance of The William Trent House Association.
John Burkhalter of the Practitioners of Musick entertains visitors to the commodious 1773 house built by prosperous merchant trader and Philadelphia Quaker, Richard Waln. Waln house is one of many structures that comprises historic Walnford a commercial village complete with gristmill, various farm buildings, two orchards, and 100 plowed acres.
For more information visit:
www.MonmouthCountyParks.com
John Burkhalter & Sheldon Eldridge – Walnford Day 2022
Julie, Chris & John Burkhalter
Additional opportunities to enjoy and learn about Early Music will be offered during the Princeton Festival, mostly offered online but with a few live events scheduled to be held at Morven.
John Burkhalter of the Practitioners of Musick will present a Festival virtual talk entitled “Profound Harmony and Invention: Music of the Baroque” on Monday, June 7th 2021 at 7:00 PM.
Visit the festival website at princetonfestival.org/2021-season to see the complete schedule.
This program was featured on June 17, 2021 as part of the Boston Early Music Festival Fringe Concert series.
In America throughout the 18th century amateur music making was an accomplishment through which good manners, taste, and politeness could be displayed in the pursuit of refinement. The ability to play a musical instrument as well as sing, dance, and draw were important fashionable skills to be cultivated under the tutelage of professional music tutors, masters of the dance, and artists. Since music making was a collaborative endeavor bringing players and listeners together, it was thought to be an important way to convey the felicities of social harmony.
THE CONCERT PROGRAM:
A Chamber Solo composed by Mr. Handel in Giulio Cesare
The Scots Ground set by Mr. Robt. Bremner
Lesson taken from Corelli’s 10th Concerto
A Pastorale as set by Domenico Zipoli from his Lessons
“Lovely Nancy” set by James Oswald
Minuet in Rodelinda as compos’d by Mr. Handel
The celebrat’d Gavotta in Love in a Village as set by Mr. Abel
Dr. Arne’s fam’d Air “Water Parted from the Sea” from Artaxerxes
“Generous Love” the Favourite Air by Mr. Henry Carey
Lord Kelly’s Minuet
Air Champêtre par M. Balbastre
Dances in Queen Mab composed by Mr. Dibdin
“The Flowers of the Forrest” as set by Mr. Bremner
Mr. Stanley’s Gavot taken from the Concertos
“Cibel” set by Mr. Bremner
Hogmanay is the traditional Scottish celebration of the New Year and annually the Trent House Museum recognizes the heritage of William Trent, who immigrated to the English colonies from Scotland in the late 1600s, with our own version of the celebration. This year’s program will feature a concert of Scottish music that American colonists would have heard around the time of the Revolutionary War. Among the selections will be favorites of George Washington and his family, played on recorder and harpsichord by John Burkhalter and Donovan Klotzbeacher of the Practitioners of Musick.
On Sunday November 1, 2020 at 3pm, John Burkhalter [of The Practitioners of Musick] presents for Brandywine Baroque a lecture entitled: “Catherine (Kitty) Clive ~ Her Look is Measure and Her Action Sound”.
The virtual lecture highlights the extraordinary theatrical and musical career of Catherine Clive (1711-1785) who frequently performed on the stage with the incomparable David Garrick and sang in premieres of works by Thomas Augustine Arne (Comus), William Boyce (The Chaplet), and the protean George Frideric Handel (Samson).
The virtual concerts originate at “FLINTWOODS” home to one of the pre-eminent private collections of antique harpsichords in the world.
Listen to the Kitty Clive lecture
For additional information on all the virtual Brandywine Baroque musical offerings visit
https://www.brandywinebaroque.org/
October 10, 2020 – The Benefit Telethon. [1pm to 5pm]
As a fund raising project the historic Old Barracks in Trenton hosted a hybrid program of live and virtual programming. The telethon featured interpreters and re-enactors associated with the Old Barracks Museum. John Burkhalter of the Practitioners of Musick presented a virtual illustrated lecture “The English Flute in Colonial and Early Federal Period America” . In addition, he performed repertory drawn from 18th century English Flute or Treble Recorder Lesson books known to have been for sale and purchase in nearby Philadelphia .
For more information regarding the Old Barracks visit:
https://www.barracks.org/
While the house remains closed during this Covid-19 period, innovative programming continues under the direction of Curator Lisa Flick and Rose Maguire the President of the Rockingham association.
On September 19, 2020 [ from 1pm to 3pm} at Rockingham Historic site John performed …“socially distanced” …on the English flute unaccompanied theatre and playhouse airs as could be heard in 18th century America to the delight of “socially distanced” visitors.
To learn more about Rockingham and public programming please visit: https://www.rockingham.net/
John performs at 2019 Patriot’s Week Colonial Ball.
