Mėlomanie Plays to a Packed House….at the Library

Music in a library? What better way to introduce the public to musical instruments like the gamba, baroque flute and baroque violin? The Friends of the Newark Free Library are devoted to making their library a community education center and they attracted quite a crowd for the concert by Mėlomanie. Over 90 people came to hear the Sunday afternoon concert – many of them brought children.

The group started the concert by playing the first part of La Piemontaise from Les Nations by François Couperin. The room, which has almost no echo or reverberation, was a great venue for the harpsichord, gamba and baroque flute and baroque violin. Each instrument could be heard distinctly, yet the blends of harmony were quite good. Christof Richter’s baroque violin and Eve Friedman’s baroque flute kept a very even match, especially in the Gravement – vivement et marquee. In the Seconde Air, the harpsichord’s lute stop sounded beautiful – and the entire ensemble went from forte to piano in a very natural and easy way to recreate the baroque dynamics.

The concert included two pieces by contemporary composers. The first was an excerpted verision of Dreams (2013) by Sergio Roberto de Oliveira played by Kim Reighley on modern flute and Doug McNames on cello. Oliveira was trying to depict the mysterious world of dreams in a series of musical vignettes. McNames and Reighley managed to hold a strict rhythmic unity – coming in absolutely together after rests and managing the exact same tone qualities on two-note slurs. The entire piece will be premiered on January 19 at Grace United Methodist Church in Wilmington.

The other contemporary piece was Fantaisie Mėlomanie by Roberto Pace which he had written for Mėlomanie in 2009. The clarity of the acoustics really brought out the individual voices in the piece. The groupings of cello, gamba and violin as well as the two modern flutes and violin were well-balanced and beautifully voiced.

The concert ended with the second part of La Piemontaise, the dances. The delicate sounds of the Allemande and the two Courantes were a great introduction to the very low and plaintive sounds of the gamba and low harpsichord notes in the Sarabande. The final Rondeau was a cheerful end to a short and fun concert.


The Friends of the Newark Free Library and Pam Nelson have really given something special to the community when they provide unusual music in a friendly and informal setting.



See www.melomanie.org

Art is Even More Awesome...After Dark



June 2012 Art is Social. Photo by Alessandra Nicole.

The Delaware Art Museum expands after-hours fun in Wilmo with Art is After Dark. This month, the Museum will stay open late and offer exciting events and activities for adults on select Friday nights. Perfect for the over-21 crowd, evenings include beer and wine tastings courtesy of FranksWine, as well as musical performances, salsa lessons, trivia, film screenings, themed parties and more!

And, Art is now DATE NIGHT: Clay Date and Make a Valentine invite guests to mix, mingle and get a little messy in the Museum's studio where art supplies, beer, wine and light snacks are provided. The galleries and special exhibitions also will be open for all indoor events and the Copeland Sculpture Garden for outdoor activities in warmer months.

The “After Dark” year kicks off this Friday with the popular Art is Social, featuring beer and wine tastings and JD3, a Wilmington-based keyboard jazz trio.  Prices for the new evening series vary from free to $35. Museum Members receive discounted rates for all events.

See www.delart.org.

Masterful Work by Mastersingers of Wilmington

By Guest Blogger, Barb Bullock
Barb is the Director of Development and Communications for Wilmington Renaissance Corporation. Barb has worked for a variety of arts organizations (Kennett Symphony Orchestra, Grand Opera House, OperaDelaware  and Delaware Theatre Company) and was the Executive Director of First Night Wilmington, a family celebration of the arts held on New Year’s Eve.

On Sunday, December 16, the Mastersingers of Wilmington – under the superb direction of Market Street Music's Artistic Director David Schelat – presented their exquisite annual holiday concert, The Wonder of Christmas with guest organist, Marvin Mills.  Warm holiday cheer and spirit filled the beautiful First and Central Church, as the remarkable musicians of Mastersingers presented four centuries of Christmas music – a wonderful mix of classical pieces and favorite carols to an enthusiastic audience of nearly 400 listeners.  This packed house is one of the largest audiences the Mastersingers have experienced at a performance.

The program's highlights included Surge, Illuminare by Mastersingers conductor, David Schelat; Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow arranged by Marvin Mills; Ríu, Ríu, Chíu, Ave Maria and the beautiful Quem Pastores Laudavere by New York City composer, James Bassi.

The Mastersingers of Wilmington is a 28-voice choral ensemble of the finest professional and amateur singers in the region. Highly regarded for its choral sound and impeccable singing, the group explores classics of choral repertoire, new music and world music in its riveting!

Up next for the Mastersingers: Rich Increase: Shakespeare to Spirituals, Saturday, April 27, 2013 at 7:30pm at First and Central.

See www.marketstreetmusicde.org