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Musical Salon: Beethoven’s “Harp” Quartet March 30
Come explore and discuss Beethoven’s wonderful “Harp” Quartet Opus 74 with musician, teacher, and composer Robbie Merfeld. Excerpts, demonstrations, and refreshments provided.

Part of an ongoing series of Musical Salon events hosted by Moby Pearson, the salon, set for Thursday, March 30, at 7 p.m., will be co-hosted by Robbie Merfeld, a longtime associate of the BMC. Robbie and Moby are friends and musical colleagues, who shared many performances as members of the Apple Hill Chamber Players.

Composed in 1809, Beethoven’s “Harp” Quartet is actually written, not for harp, but for string quartet. The “Harp” nickname comes from the pizzicato sections in the allegro of the first movement, where pairs of members of the quartet alternate notes in an arpeggio, reminiscent of the plucking of a harp.

Since 2017, BMC Faculty member Moby Pearson has hosted a series of Musical Salons, in which he shares a selection of carefully curated recordings and videos of music from across the ages – from Bach to the Beatles. These evenings are an opportunity to explore a wide range of topics and to pick up new musical perspectives along the way. Past topics have included Composers of Color, Music of Protest, The Art of Robert Shaw, Music of Ukraine, Film Scores and Theme Songs, The Mozart Arias, and explorations of close harmony singing.

Donations gratefully accepted.

Those planning to attend are strongly encouraged to review the online materials Merfeld has prepared for the Salon, which can be found at bmcvt.org/harp-quartet. Please pre-register by calling 802.257.4523 or emailing info@bmcvt.org so we can reserve a spot for you.

Musicians from Marlboro Presents Varied Program at the BMC April 8
Musicians from Marlboro touring program, which has been lauded as a “virtual guarantee of musical excellence” by the Washington Post, returns to the BMC Saturday, April 8.

The concert, set for 7 p.m. at the BMC, will include Mendelssohn’s Two Pieces for String Quartet, Op. 81; Wiancko’s Benkei’s Standing Death; Kurtág’s Duos for Soprano & Double Bass from “The Notebooks of G.C. Lichtenberg;” Kirsten’s “yes I said yes I will Yes;” and Beethoven’s String Quintet in C Major, Op. 29.

Performers include Lucy Fitz Gibbon, soprano; Alexi Kenney and Lun Li, violin; Hélène Clément and Tanner Menees, viola; Yi Qun Xu, cello; and William Langlie-Miletich, double bass.