Daniel Read, born in Rumford in 1757, was America’s premier composer in the Revolutionary period. Sherburne, one of his most popular compositions, was frequently used as the tune for “While Shepherd’s Watch Their Flocks by Night.” Contemporary Rhode Island composer Will Ayton has taken this majestic tune and woven it into a refreshing new composition that retains the fugal character of Read’s original wprk.
L’Esperance Mandolin Ensemble was founded in 1990 to continue the tradition of mandolin in America represented by the great American mandolinists Giuseppe Pettine, William Place, Jr. and Hibbard Perry. From Folk to Baroque, our program presented at the First Unitarian Church of Providence on May 14, 2016 celebrates the marriage of folk and classical music from Baroque composer Antonio Vivaldi to Beethoven and including contemporary composers Jim Dalton and Michael Mayerfeld Bell.
Mandolin: Michael Cappelli, Virginia Child, Jack Cook, Yvette Cote, Julia Doyle-Kingsbury, Duane Golomb, Keith Higginson, Chang Lee, Viki Merrick, Ron Parker, Terry Smith
Mandola: Vincent Bucci, David Burt, Harvey Marcotte, Will Melton, Joanne Taddei, Frederick Work
Mandocello: Jess Dettmann, Alex Hatzberger, Michael Scott
Guitar: Christopher Sanzo
Mandobass: Hiatt Knapp
Percussion: Kyle Forsthoff
Musical Direction: Joshua Bell