For 45 years, its free summer concerts have serenaded the many towns that surround Mount Monadnock, becoming as much a part of the picturesque rural landscape as the bells that ring in Jaffrey or Francestown.
This summer, Monadnock Music’s festival honors its history with a special project, “Music for the Mountain,” a series of six song premieres in which a half dozen composers have chosen poems written by MacDowell Colony poets under the spell of Monadnock and its environs.
Poets and composers both will be on hand at each performance in this free town concert series.
Featured composers will include Gabriella Smith, Nathan Currier, Yu-hui Chang, David Fulmer, Nicholas Stoia and Jamie Keesecker.
Featured poets will include Chana Bloch, Marcia Falk, Elizabeth Wil-lis, Suzanne Cleary, Bertha Rogers and Neil Shepard.
In addition, as a follow-up to last year’s ”Beethoven Trail,” this year’s six-part “Mozart Trail” will highlight Mozart’s six string quintets, five written with two violas and one with clarinet. One of this master’s incomparable quintets is presented every week in the free town concerts.
“Among the most profound music in (his) repertoire, these pieces display the interesting way Mozart made one of the two internal voices — the viola — the center of the ensemble,” said Monadnock Music’s artistic directors, Jonathan Bagg and Laura Gilbert in a written statement.
“Like last year’s ‘Beethoven Trail,’ the ‘Mozart Trail’ offers a stirring musical journey to those who follow it throughout the summer.”
First up in the Mozart music series is a free concert at 7:30 p.m. today, July 8, in Pierce Hall at Franklin Pierce University in Rindge. The program will feature Luigi Boccherini’s “String Sextet in F, Op. 23, No. 4; Frank Bridge’s “String Sextet in E-flat, and Mozart’s “String Quintet in C, K. 515.
Also planned for this evening is a “Music for the Mountains” concert at 7:30 p.m. at Hancock Community Church, 47 Main St.
On that program will be Paul Ben-Haim’s “Chamber Music for flute, viola and harp; Jonathan Elliott’s “Between the Blossom and the Fruit Time”; poetry by Marcia Falk; Gabriella Smith’s “Earth for soprano and strings; Earl Kim’s “Now and Then” for soprano, flute, viola and harp; and Beethoven’s “String trio in D major, Op. 9, No. 2.”
On Friday, July 9, a 7:30 p.m. concert in Marlow Jones Hall, 12 Church St., Marlow, will feature Luigi Boccherini’s String Sextet in F, op. 23, No. 4, Frank Bridge’s String Sextet in E-flat and Mozart’s String Quintet in C, K. 515.
Also planned for that evening, a 7:30 p.m. concert at All Saints Church, 51 Concord St., Peterborough, will feature Paul Ben-Haim’s “Chamber Music for flute, viola, and harp,” Jonathan Elliott’s “Between the Blossom and the Fruit Time,” poetry by Marcia Falk, Gabriella Smith’s “Earth for soprano and strings,” Earl Kim’s “Now and Then for soprano, flute, viola and harp,” Beethoven’s String trio in D major, Op. 9, No. 2 and a co-presentation with The Walden School.
Additional programs are set for: Monday, July 12, at The Starving Artist Collective in Keene; Thursday, July 15, at First Church in Jaffrey Center; Friday, July 16, at Temple Community Church; Sunday, July 18, at Walpole Unitarian Church; Thursday, July 22, at Milford Town Hall; Friday, July 23, at Deering Community Church; Wednesday, July 28, at Cheney Hall at Franklin Pierce University in Rindge; Thursday, July 29, at Harrisville Community Church; Friday, July 30, at Sullivan United Congregational Church; Thursday, Aug. 5, at Keene Unitarian Church; Thursday, Aug. 5, at Wilton Center Unitarian Church; Friday, Aug. 6, at Dublin School and Washington Congregational Church; Thursday, Aug. 12, at Nelson Congregational Church; and Friday, Aug. 13, at Francestown Old Meetinghouse.
Log onto www.monadnockmusic.org or call 924-7610 for details.
