Parker String Quartet at Grey Towers

Kindred Spirits Arts Programs presents: MILFORD n Winding its way through the American Landscape, Kindred Spirits returns to its original home on Saturday June 9, when it presents The Parker String Quartet in the third concert of its 2007 season at Grey Towers. In keeping with the theme of returning to one’s roots, the concert on June 9 will feature music of Pennsylvania native Samuel Barber. Born in West Chester, Barber attended Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute of Music. His works are characterized by their lyrical melodies, complex harmonies, and an embrace of a variety of musical influences. His music is known for its ability to strike an emotional chord that resonates with the listener. The concert will feature his most well known orchestral work the Adagio from his Quartet Opus 11. The program literally returns to the source with Haydn’s Quartet in G minor Opus 74 Number 3 known as “Reiter”. Along with Mozart and Beethoven, Haydn is a towering figure in music from the Classical Period and is generally credited with inventing the string quartet as a musical form that is now synonymous with chamber music. A return to one’s roots is reflected in the music of Smetana. Born in Bohemia, Smetana looked to the folk music of his homeland as a source of inspiration. His Quartet in E minor “From My Life” not only echoes his musical heritage but also the composer’s life with all its struggles, triumphs and tragic losses. All three works combine in this exploration of the places and events that lead to musical inspiration. Since 2002 Kindred Spirits has collaborated with the Pinchot Institute for Conservation, the U S Forest Service, The Pocono Environmental Education Center and various local churches to awaken a deeper appreciation of the natural world through exposure to the arts. The concert Saturday June 9th is free of charge, and will be held on the grounds of Grey Towers beginning at 5:30 p.m. The setting with its legacy as the birthplace of American conservation is the perfect complement to a concert devoted to the persons, places and experiences that inspire the creation of beauty.