Music of the Revolution: America's 250th - Part I (1765-1777)
Come celebrate the 250th anniversary of America's War for Independence with renowned music historians David & Ginger Hildebrand for performances of special period music Monday, Aug. 3 and Tuesday, Aug. 4 at the JES. The Hildebrands will don period attire to perform patriotic songs, ballads, dance tunes and theater songs known by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and others. The Hildebrands will explain and demonstrate their instruments, including the hammered dulcimer, violin, and Spanish & English guitars – interpreting various musical traditions, featuring both the formal and less refined aspects of music in early America.
The Hildebrands will cover material from 1765 through 1777 in Part I Monday, Aug. 3, and will span 1777 through 1789 for Part II Tuesday, Aug. 4. Attendees do not have to attend both performances to enjoy and appreciate either.
The American war effort was expressed through patriotic songs, ballads, and dance tunes which connect us to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and others. The Hildebrands will explain and demonstrate their instruments, including the harpsichord, hammered dulcimer, violin, and Spanish & English guitars -- interpreting various musical traditions, featuring both the formal and less refined aspects of music in early America.
David & Ginger specialize in researching, recording, and performing early American music. Since 1980 they have presented concerts and educational programs throughout the country and abroad at museums, historic sites, schools and universities. Mount Vernon, The National Gallery of Art, The National Archives, and Colonial Williamsburg are among their many past sponsors.
In addition to producing seven CD recordings, the Hildebrands have appeared on C-SPAN television, BBC radio, NPR and "History Detectives," and they have provided soundtrack materials and served as period music consultants for PBS broadcasts, including the series Liberty!--the American Revolution, and one-hour specials Jefferson: A View from the Mountain, Re-discovering George Washington, and Anthem: The Story of the Star-Spangled Banner. In 1999, along with dance historians Kate van Winkle and Robert Keller, they co-founded The Colonial Music Institute (www.colonialmusic.org), since bequeathed to and now directed by the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Veron.
Ginger holds an M.M. from the Peabody Conservatory; David's M.A. is from George Washington University and his Ph.D. from The Catholic University of America. She teaches privately and at the Severn School, performing also with Trio Galilei - a group which for eight years gave volunteer concerts for wounded warriors at Walter Reed Hospital. David consults and lectures widely, and he teaches American Music history at The Peabody Conservatory. His book Musical Maryland: A History of Song and Performance from the Colonial Period to the Age of Radio was published in 2017 by Johns Hopkins University Press.
Location: Jefferson Educational Society - 3207 State St. Erie, PA 16508
Date/Time: Monday, August 3rd, 7:00-8:30PM
Admission: $15/person; $25 with a guest
*If you do NOT receive an email from info@jeserie.org within 24-48 hours regarding your registration, please check your spam or junk folder. Thank you!
David Hildebrand, Ph.D. has been performing professionally since 1980, mostly in duet with his wife Ginger, focusing on American music of the Colonial era, Federal period, and now especially the War of 1812 period. David received his undergraduate degree from
David is especially active in using music to teach American history at a variety of levels. He presents at scholarly conferences, writes articles and reviews for academic journals (such as Sea History, forthcoming this summer), performs for students of all ages, and gives teacher workshops regularly sponsored by the National Gallery of Art and Mount Vernon. He is creating a documentary film, Anthem, together with brother Mark Hildebrand, about the story behind "The Star-Spangled Banner." Look for David this summer on the PBS series "History Detectives," and also for broadcast this summer is a one-hour NPR program he has produced on music of the war of 1812.
Ginger Hildebrand earned her B.A. in music from Dickinson College, and an M.M. in guitar performance from the Peabody Conservatory in 1988. She teaches classical guitar both privately and at local colleges, tours regularly with Ensemble Galileii, and has done special outreach programs for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.
David and Ginger Hildebrands’ music enlivens the soundtracks of public television documentaries like “Rediscovering George Washington,” and “
