“OLD CHRISTMAS in NEW ENGLAND”

performed by

Ally Talbot & Kris Paprocki

          The Pembroke Historical Society is delighted to present "Old Christmas in New England," a musical program for the holiday season, via ZOOM, on Tuesday, December 15^th, at 6:0 PM Eastern, performed by the long-time duet of Allison Talbot and Kris Paprocki. Ally teaches English literature at Machias Memorial High School. Kris teaches music at the Pembroke, Perry, and Charlotte schools, and serves as the PHS's president.

Ally & Kris's performance will include songs and fiddle tunes spanning the celebration of Christmas from early pagan roots to Victorian nostalgia, including historic and traditional music of New England. The program will have a maritime feel, as it is said that Christmas in early Puritan New England was unpopular in the villages, and only “kept” by fishermen and mariners. Those attending the concert will hear and learn English carols that those early New England seafaring “keepers” would have sung. Kris and Ally will also be performing Christmas hymns written by America’s first composers, the “Yankee tunesmiths,” including the first piece of Christmas music published in America, composed by Machias, Maine's own James Lyon in the 1700s.

Many of the Victorian Christmas songs, such as “Over the River and Through the Wood” were written by New Englanders, as was the lesser-known “Christmas at Sea” by Maine resident George Frederick Root. With two-part vocals and instrumentation with fiddle, guitar, banjo and accordion, this is a "feel good" celebration not to be missed. You can register for the December 15th program at pembrokemainehistoricalsociety.org. Click on Events, scroll down to the registration link for the December 15th program, click on the link, fill out the form, and click on submit. For additional information contact <secretary@pembrokemainehistoricalsociety.org>.