GEMS Presents
Makaris
Out of the Western Isles
the Celtic Influence on Baroque Parlor Music
A celebration of the traditional music of Scotland and Ireland that captured the fancy of 17th and 18th-century continental Europe. Whether arranging dozens of songs for parlor performance, or incorporating Celtic rhythms and tonalities into their work in subtle ways, composers from Bach to Beethoven made use of the rich ethnomusicological outpouring of folk material from the western isles during these two centuries. Makaris shares this repertoire, alongside pieces by Scottish Baroque composers, traditional tunes, and beloved works by the famed 18th-century Irish harpist and bard, Turlough O’Carolan. Hailed as, “...a beautiful intersection of folk melodies and dance rhythms with the airy textures, refined gestures, and virtuosic asides of the Galant style” (Early Music America), Makaris brings together Baroque and folk musicians to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, HIP-style.
Saturday, March 16 at 7:30 pm
Tickets:
Prime seating ~ $40
General Admission ~ $25
Students (with ID) ~ $10
Saint Ignatius of Antioch Episcopal Church
Enter on West 87th Street between Broadway and West End Avenue, Manhattan
Makaris explores historical Scottish music, and creates new music rooted in Scottish cultural heritage. Recordings: Wisps in the Dell (2019); The Gallant David Rizzio (2022), modern-premiere of Allan Ramsay’s The Gentle Shepherd (in production). In 2021 Makaris released the EP Tam Lin: a folk-rock ballad opera co-written by Fiona Gillespie & Elliot Cole, which premiered on the Five Boroughs Music Festival. Based in and around New York City, Makaris maintains a national roster of early, new, and folk musicians at the top of their fields, per the needs of each project. makaris.org