Concord Women's Chorus To Present SONGS OF THE REVOLUTION

Celebrating 250 years of American spirit by honoring Concord's leading role in the birth of our country, Concord Women's Chorus will present a historical concert “Songs of the Revolution,” on Sunday, March 23, 3 pm, at First Parish in Concord Parish Hall, 20 Lexington Road, Concord.

The performance features Boston-based performing artist and historian Diane Taraz, also a member of Concord Women's Chorus.  Complimentary refreshments will be served.  A suggested donation of $20 at the door is greatly appreciated.

To mark 250 years since the start of the American Revolution, Diane Taraz takes a trip back in time and traces the road to rebellion with songs enjoyed by ordinary people, especially those often overlooked, such as women and people of color. Enjoy lively ballads, serene hymns, bold marches, passionate laments, and songs created by both sides promoting either independence or loyalty to the crown. Dressed in a gown of the time, Taraz plays authentic instruments including the lap dulcimer and an “English guitar,” the type favored by women of the 18th century. 

Singer, songwriter, historian and author Diane Taraz is deeply immersed in choral music and historical exploration. Diane has collaborated with several choral groups, including In Choro Novo, where she arranged her song "Silver the Moon" for four-part harmony. She has also been commissioned to compose works for various historical programs, like “Songs of the Revolution,” which she has performed in full colonial attire, and “Home, Sweet Home,” a Civil War program.  Her historical music projects reflect a passion for connecting the past with the present. She leads programs that explore the lives of women through folk songs, Colonial-era music, and the songs of New England textile mill workers. Diane's companion CDs, including "Songs of the Revolution" and "A Civil War Sampler," feature music from these eras. She frequently performs at historic sites and creates educational programs that bring American musical history to life, including her course, "Singing the Past to Life" at Framingham State University.  Taraz also serves on the Scholarly Advisory Board of the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, based in New York City. For over a decade she directed the Lexington Historical Society Colonial Singers.

For the past two years, Diane Taraz has been a member of Concord Women's Chorus, a 45-singer ensemble fostering the power of women's voices through song. Artistic Director Jane Ring Frank conducts the chorus performing a wide variety of choral music, ranging from early music to contemporary repertoire, with an emphasis on works written for women's voices.  

Concord Women's Chorus presents its spring concert “Still Heard Round the World: A Celebration of Music Written by and for Women” on Saturday, May 3, 4 pm, in celebrations of Concord250, at Trinity Episcopal Church, 81 Elm Street, Concord.  The performance features texts by famous Concord and New England authors. To purchase tickets, visit concordwomenschorus.org/wp/concerts.

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