NEW SALEM — Pioneer Valley Brass will perform a free public concert of traditional and modern music on Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Swift River Valley Historical Society, 40 Elm St.
The program coincides with the anniversary of the birthday of Harriet Clary, who lived for many years in the Whitaker-Clary House, which is part of the museum today. Birthday cake will be served after the performance.
The program is sponsored by the First Universalist Parish of North Dana as the 783rd in a series of memorial concerts to further the memory of the Parish, which was forced to leave North Dana for the creation of the Quabbin Reservoir 80 years ago.
Sunday’s performance will include “Canzona Bergamasca” by Scheidt; “Aria of the Queen of the Night from Die Zauberflote” by Mozart, arranged by Coolidge; “English Folk Song Suite” (“Seventeen Come Sunday,” “My Bonny Boy” and “Folk Song from Somerset”) by R. Vaughn Williams; “Rubber Duckie” by Moss; “La Cumparsita” by Rodriguez; “A Foggy Day/Nice Work if You Can Get It” by Gershwin; “Vier Spanische Renaissance Villancicos,” anonymous; “Down by the Old Mill Stream” by Taylor; “Satin Doll” by Ellington; and “Semper Fidelis” by Sousa.
Pioneer Valley Brass has been performing in central and western Massachusetts since the 1970s. It is a group of talented musicians from throughout the area. Dick Tandy and Melissa Griffin play trumpet, Jim Engele plays horn, Jeri Bannister performs on trombone and Joe Hoye is featured on tuba. These musicians have performed and are well-known throughout the region.
Memorial concert programs sponsored by the First Universalist Parish of North Dana are always free to the public, and no offering may be taken by the hosting site. Musicians receive remuneration from a trust fund begun by bequests from Catharine Mason and Mary Hale and added to by proceeds from sale of church property at its dissolution.