Stop the Bells Tolling

Overview

The Publick Pleasure presents:

STOP THE BELLS TOLLING
Music of Philadelphia and the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793
Saturday, September 14th at 7pm • Tickets $30
Gloria Dei (Old Swede’s) Church
914 Swanson St
Philadelphia, PA 19147

Join us for a dramatic concert of befores and afters, as The Publick Pleasure explores changes in Philadelphia’s musical landscape caused by the city’s Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793. Concert life, performers, impresarios and musical tastes in Philadelphia underwent profound shifts as the population fled the city, and ordinary life ground to a halt. The city’s own soundscape changed, with church bells silenced and gunpowder exploded in the streets. This concert will include texts from period newspapers and personal accounts of 1793 as companions to musical compositions from before and after Philadelphia’s “unhappy calamity.” Music will be performed on instruments of the period.

About the Artist

The Publick Pleasure is made up of some of Philadelphia’s finest early music performers. The group is dedicated to the research and presentation of America’s early concert life (c. 1750 - 1850) with a special focus on Philadelphia and the Mid-Atlantic Region. The Publick Pleasure performs on period musical instruments, instruments set up according to the conventions of the 18th century (for example using gut strings). The Publick Pleasure also engages in historically informed performance practice. This means that rather than hearing a modern interpretation of 18th century music, the musicians perform an interpretation much as it would have been heard during the 18th century.

Credits