
The award-winning Celtic duo of harpist Sue Richards and guitarist Robin Bullock, present CAROLINA CELTIC, a monthly concert series at White Horse. Carolina Celtic showcases Irish and Scottish musical traditions and explores their commonality with the Appalachian ballads and stories of the Carolina mountains.
Tonight’s Guest Performers are CAROLYN SURRICK and RONN McFARLANE
One would be hard pressed to find two musicians whose musical journeys have been more parallel (and hail from Maryland.) Both of these distinguished artists have been champions of their respective instruments for decades – McFarlane on lute and Surrick on viola da gamba. Both are compelling performers, consummate musicians, and both have immersed themselves in music from the Renaissance and Baroque, music from Ireland and Scotland, and also compose new works.
Individually, they have been awarded, acclaimed, celebrated, and now finally, they have become musical partners in an extraordinary journey. While it is true that they toured for decades, traveled thousands of miles, slept in hundreds of hotels rooms, have been on stage in some of the most prestigious concert halls in this country, and recorded dozens of CDs, this new and unexpected partnership has been remarkable in every way. Their musicianship is impeccable, the ease with which they play together is stunning, and their music making is a joy to behold.
They’ve just released a new holiday album featuring reimagined traditional Christmas favorites alongside new works
It is alchemy. While Ronn McFarlane, and Carolyn Surrick, have both had significant and brilliant careers, their remarkable partnership has led them to this newfound musical life —and that has led to a rethinking and recasting of what a holiday concert can be. Yes, there are favorite Christmas carols. Yes, there is virtuosity, and yes, there are unexpected musical surprises. But there is a journey here. There is wistful memory, there is shared history, there are new stories to tell, and there is joy—joy in the making of the music, joy in the celebration of the season, and joy in the sharing of it. The unspoken communication between these two master musicians is beautiful and deep.
The partnership of Ronn McFarlane, lute, and Carolyn Surrick, viola da gamba, is one of a shared musical passion. They are both well established in their fields, have toured extensively, and recorded numerous CDs. But most importantly, they compose, arrange, and are always available to think about old music in new ways. As musicians, they are eternally productive and irrepressibly imaginative. As performers, they are luminous.
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