Public Events Schedule

BOXWOOD CANADA 2010

Public events are presented by Boxwood in cooperation with the St. John's Arts Alliance. More details to follow in Spring of 2010

Sunday July 25, 2010; 7:30 PM concert

Jean-Christophe MAILLARD and Vortex 3: Folk meets Baroque in 18th century France and Scotland

St. John's Anglican Church, Townsend St., Lunenburg

In this opening program of Boxwood 2010, the lines presumed to exist between folk and art music of the 18th century will be dissolved as Jean-Christophe MAILLARD, the world's greatest exponent of the French baroque musette de cour astounds and amazes.He'll present a program of pastoral music of the French baroque that reaches to the music's roots in the traditional vocal and dance music of Brittany and the Pyrenees. Vortex 3 mixes Cape-Breton, Acadian and Maritime Canadian influences with Scotland's folk-infused music of the 18th century. Their recent performances at the Edinburgh International Festival, Ottawa Chamber Music Festival and Sligo Baroque Festival have left audiences . . . astonished. This showdown between the Scottish Small pipes vs. Musette de cour will not be repeated any time or anywhere soon!

Jean Christophe MAILLARD - musette de cour, baroque flute

Vortex 3
David GREENBERG - baroque violin
Chris NORMAN - flutes, pipes
David McGUINNESS - harpsichord, piano

Wednesday July 28, 2010; 7:30 PM

BIG BOXWOOD CEILI DANCE

St. John's Anglican Parish Hall
64 Townsend St., Lunenburg

Bring your dancing shoes for a rollicking ceili dance in one of Canada’s most historic venues called by Elizabeth MacDonald with some sizzling step dancing from Jonathon Srour (Fresh from a tour with Lord of the Dance). An exhilarating ceili dance with Boxwood’s monster staff on the bandstand (visit our artists page). Likely one of the best dances in Nova Scotia all year!

Friday July 30, 2010; 7:30 PM

Music and Songs from the ballad opera: THE GENTLE SHEPHERD

Venue TBD

Alan Ramsay published The Gentle Shepherd in Edinburgh in 1725 as a pastoral ballad opera. The Gentle Shepherd enjoyed massive success both in his lifetime and for several years after his death. With music compsed by James Oswald this Scots pastoral drama is an entirely original creation, which develops the pastoral genre and fixes it within a Scottish context. Although the play belongs to the sentimental age, its value remains to this day: Ramsay presents his audience with skilful sections of lyric and song, and daringly attempts to revive the Scottish theatrical tradition under the strict codes of Calvinism. David McGuinness presented a reconstruction of the Gentle Shepherd at the Edinburgh International Festival a few years back to rave reviews and sold out houses. Join us for this unique and magical production.

David McGUINNESS- director, harpsichord
Edmund BROWNLESS - voice
David GREENBERG - Cape Breton & baroque violin
Chris NORMAN - traditional & early flutes, small pipes
Rod GARNETT- flutes, ethnic flutes
Marlys NORMAN - dance
William COULTER- guitar

Saturday July 31, 2010; 7:30 PM

BOXWOOD FINALE CONCERT

St. John's Anglican Church, Townsend St., Lunenburg

Boxwood's remarkable finale concert has become an eagerly anticipated annual event in Lunenburg. This year we feature performances by one of the greats of the Irish flute: the Rev Gary Hastings, whose soulful playing is derived from the true heart of traditional music. He'll be joined by the legendary Uillean piper Paddy Keenan as well as the extraordinary fiddling of James Kelly. Rod Garnett will gather guests to play a set that features his astounding virtuosity and breadth of repertoire that spans from Eastern Europe to Bali to South America. The duo of Chris Norman & David Greenberg will play a blazing set from their new CD. A grand finale with all of our artists concludes the show. For complete info on these stellar musicians visit our artists page.

Rev Gary Hastings - Irish flute
Paddy KEENAN - Irish Uilleann pipes and whistle
James KELLY - Irish fiddle
Jonathan SROUR - step dance
Rod GARNETT- flutes, ethnic flutes
Jean-Christophe MAILLARD- French baroque musette de cour, baroque flute, bombarde
David GREENBERG - Cape Breton & baroque violin
Chris NORMAN - traditional & early flutes, small pipes
William COULTER- guitar
. . . . and more