HARK! THE WILD MUSICIANS SING!

Music by William Boyce and Henry Purcell

April 17, 2027 · in Lincoln, MA

Hark! The Wild Musicians Sing! brings together the brilliant instrumental writing of William Boyce and a remarkable group of Henry Purcell’s rarely heard symphony songs—large-scale vocal works in which voices and instruments share the storytelling.

At the heart of the program are Purcell’s vivid and theatrical Symphony Songs - written for multiple voices and strings. Purcell’s songs are paired with William Boyce’s elegant and exuberant trio sonatas for strings, music from the generation after Purcell that carries the English Baroque tradition into a new century. Boyce published a celebrated collection of twelve trios for two violins and bass, works prized for their melodic invention and lively interplay.

The performances bring together an exceptional ensemble of artists: Ian Watson, Susanna Ogata, Emily Dahl, Thomas Barth, and guest artist Jason Fisher, with Emily Siar, soprano; Dan Fridley, bass-baritone; and musicians of the Henry Purcell Society of Boston.

Hark! The Wild Musicians Sing! offers a chance to hear some of Purcell’s lesser-known secular music alongside Boyce’s sparkling chamber works—a program not to miss!