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Bring us in Good Ale! The Chris Norman Ensemble and David Greenberg celebrate music, food and drink with Piper in the Pantry on March 23 and 24, 2007 at 8:00 pm TORONTO, March 7, 2007 —The Toronto Consort is thrilled to welcome renowned Maritime flute player and piper Chris Norman and his ensemble of guitars, harmonium, bass, percussion and vocals for concerts on March 23 and 24 at 8:00 pm at Trinity St Paul’s Centre. Piper in the Pantry is a program that celebrates good music, food and drink. The menu includes generous servings of English, Irish and Scots musical traditions, and the audience is invited to sample traditional refreshments — such as sweet puddings, cheeses, ale and stout — at intermission. Tickets range from $14 to $40 and are available through the Box Office at (416) 964-6337. Halifax-born Norman has been hailed as the finest wooden flute player in the world, a musician whose “rootsy heritage shines through in every nuanced embellishment, trill, triple tonguing, and silky slide.” (Billboard Magazine). Guest fiddler and Consort favourite David Greenberg joins Norman and ensemble members James Blachly (bass, gamba, vocals), Nick Halley (percussion, harmonium, harpsichord, vocals), and Andy Thurston (guitars) for this musical and culinary feast. Piper in the Pantry is organized loosely around the idea of a good meal, starting with a few flagons of ale to awaken the palate, proceeding with a sampling of musical morsels that culminate with a Meg Merriless stew and haggis main course in the second half, topped by a desert of bannocks and pudding with a dram or two of malt whiskey to settle the stomach and mellow the mind. The music ranges widely from Bring us in Good Ale, a melody from the time of Henry VI, to the vividly-titled How Can We Abstain from Whiskey? (1816), and The Humours of the Corn Market (1750). The Chris Norman Ensemble brings to life the energetic traditional dance music of Maritime Canada, Scotland, and Ireland with an emphasis on exploring points of contact with the music's roots in 16th-19th century Europe. At the heart of the group is Norman, whose brilliant and imaginative flute playing has contributed to groups as diverse as the The Baltimore Consort, Skyedance, Helicon, Chatham Baroque, Concerto Caledonia, as well as Hollywood soundtracks and seven solo recordings. His influential work as a performer, composer, recording artist, educator, and director of the Boxwood Festival and Workshop has played a significant role in reviving the flute in traditional Scottish and Canadian music. His most recent recording is Tout Passe: Chants d’Acadie II, a program of Acadian music featuring soprano Suzie LeBlanc, which is slated for release in the coming weeks. Listing information: Media Contact:
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The Toronto Consort
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