PLATTSBURGH — For the first time, the Battle of Plattsburgh Commemoration Weekend includes a series of free concerts highlighting music performed in Europe and North America during 1814, the year the battle took place.
According to series organizer Benjamin Pomerance, “war and music are strange cousins,” the most obvious connection being the fifes, drums and bugles used to “call the fighters to arms,” on the battlefield.
“But there is another correlation here: the fact that music can provide unparalleled solace to individuals, and to a community, during the period of strife that war brings.” he said.
All performances are free of charge, open to the public and scheduled at Trinity Episcopal Church located at 18 Trinity Pl. in downtown Plattsburgh.
Each concert features a North Country artist presenting works by Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn and Vivaldi, as well as early American gospel music.
“Every note that will be played in these four concerts existed at the time of the Battle of Plattsburgh in September 1814,” Pomerance said.
The concert schedule includes:
— “From Seeds They Grew: The Roots of American Gospel Music,” 4 p.m. Sept. 13
The Plattsburgh State Gospel Choir, led by Dr. Dexter Criss, will perform acoustic gospel choral and instrumental music representative of the early 19th century.
— “Music of the Night: Mozart’s E-flat Major Serenade,” 5 p.m. Sept. 13
Daniel Gordon will lead members of the Adirondack Wind Ensemble in Mozart’s Serenade No. 11 and a divertimento by Joseph Haydn.
“AWE was part of the BoP commemorations about 20 years ago; on the first anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, we played a special memorial concert in conjunction with a community choir that Jo Ellen Miano organized,” Gordon said.
According to Gordon, AWE will play period music those who fought in the Battle of Plattsburgh might have listened to.
“There will also be a discussion about the pieces so that the audience can understand some aspects of the music, the instruments used, and the social settings in which music like this was heard during its time,” he said.
— “A Masterpiece Returned: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons,” 1 p.m. Sept. 14
Violinist Marilyn Reynolds will perform the solo part of Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons,” joined by musicians of Champlain Strings.
— “Music for Three: Beethoven & More,” 3 p.m. Sept. 14
Violist Patricia McCarty, guitarist Bill Zito and flutist Robin Cameron-Phillips will perform Beethoven’s Serenade, Op. 8, as well as works by Telemann, Albinoni and Francesco Molino.
“There is a staggering amount of music composed for the trio of flute, viola & guitar, mostly from the early 19th century, so it must have been a very popular combination at court and for intimate gatherings,” Patricia McCarty, viola, said.
All performers live or work in the Champlain Valley.
“Each of these concerts is a time capsule. Every one offers a glance to the past that we honor on this weekend. and every one is worthy of an audience member’s time as this array of truly gifted performers from our region present these four programs that take us back to the era of the battle and the music that might have been in the minds of Plattsburgh’s inhabitants at that time,” Pomerance said.
The concerts are organized by Pomerance and sponsored by the Battle of Plattsburgh Commemoration Committee with support from local donors.
Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
“If anyone wants to hear some music that was popular during the time of the Battle of Plattsburgh and wants to learn something about that music, please join us at the concert,” Gordon said.