Description
Two women plus twelve musical instruments equals one rollicking afternoon of fun when the folk duo Simple Gifts takes the stage at Trinity on Sunday, February 27th. Drawing on an impressive variety of ethnic folk styles, this award-winning duo plays everything from lively Irish jigs and down-home American reels to hard-driving Klezmer frailachs and haunting Gypsy melodies, spicing the mix with the distinctive rhythms of Balkan dance music, the lush sounds of Scandinavian twin fiddling, and original compositions written in a traditional style.
Combining tradition with innovation, Simple Gifts creates some of the finest arrangements in folk music today: swing fiddle creeps into a Romanian dance, spoons show up in an Irish reel, and a blues lick introduces a Klezmer melody. Based in the hills of central Pennsylvania, these women play an amazing array of instruments. Linda Littleton and Karen Hirshon switch with ease among fiddle, mandolin, banjo, guitar, guitjo, recorders, bowed psaltery, hammered dulcimer, baritone fiddle, guitar, and percussion. They deliver their music with intensity, humor and contagious enthusiasm. They love the music they play and share their excitement with the audience.
Like all TAAT concerts, there is no admission fee for this performance. It is Trinityโs gift to the greater Wilmington community. In addition to the performance, the Simple Gifts duo will also present a free pre-concert lecture-presentation at 3:00 pm that explores the essence of folk music, how folk music differs from other styles, and how folk music develops and evolves over time. They will also talk about the creative process that folk musicians follow to take a simple melody and mold it into an interesting performance piece.
Donations will be accepted at the door to support the ongoing creative programming of The Arts At Trinity. * Trinity Church complies with State of Delaware pandemic mandates. Please wear a face mask and observe social distancing.