Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Civil War Songs with Marek Bennett and Woody Pringle

Join us Wednesday May 30 at 7pm for Rally Round the Flag: The American Civil War in Folksong with Marek Bennett (Big Paws)and Woody Pringle (Bradford Bog People).   Join us as these talented  folk musicians present a year-by-year tour through the American Civil War, using period folksongs to illustrate the social, political, and economic upheavals occurring throughout the country and at every level of society, including race relations, labor issues, Constitutional law, political rhetoric, social upheaval, and additional conflicts that led to the Civil War. From simple sing-along chants and musical games to dramatic ballads and carefully composed patriotic propaganda, we examine the folksong as a means to enact living history, share perspectives, influence public perceptions of events, and simultaneously fuse and conserve cultures in times of change.  Free and open to the public with support from the Hopkinton Public Library Foundation.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

The Founding Fathers: What Were They Thinking? Thursday 5/24 at 7pm

Local Resident and historian Dick Hesse will present a NH Humanities Council Program "The Founding Fathers: What Were They Thinking?"  In 1787 delegates gathered in Philadelphia to address a wide variety of crises facing the young United States of America and produced a charter for a new government.  In modern times, competing political and legal claims are frequently based on what those intended.  Mythology about the founders and their work at the 1787 Convention has obscured both fact and legitimate analysis of the events leading to the agreement called the Constitution.  The program explores the cast of characters called "Founders", the problems they faced and the solutions they fashioned.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

The Old Country Fiddler this Thursday at 7pm

Charles Ross Taggart was a traveling entertainer who grew up in Topsham, Vermont and performed in various stage shows across the country for over 40 years, starting in 1895. A fiddler, piano player, humorist, singer and ventriloquist, he made at least 25 recordings with the Victor, Edison, and Columbia compansies and appeared in a talking movie picture 6 years before Al Jolson starred in The Jazz Singer. Adam Boyce portrays Mr. Taggart near the end of his career, c.1936, sharing recollections on his life and career, with some live fiddling and humorous sketches interspersed in this living history program. Thursday May 17th at 7pm in the Community Room of the Library. A New Hampshire Humanities Council Program.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

The Art and Architecture of the Mandolin

Friday May 11 at 7pm. Listen to some sweet tunes and learn about mandolin design and construction with Max and Lauri Girourard and John Holden.

Miniature Horse at the Library!

All ages are welcome to drop in on Saturday May 5th from 2:00-3:30pm to meet Cover Girl, a miniature horse, listen to a horse tale, and get your picture taken with her!!