News Flash

Award-winning fiddler and music historian David Gardner performs and talks about “Christmas Music of Early Virginia” as part of the Hampton History Museum’s Port Hampton Lecture Series on Monday, December 3, 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Gardner will take attendees on a musical Yuletide stroll through 17th century Virginia. He’ll share this entertaining story on a collection of historically appropriate instruments.

The music of the holidays in 17th century Virginia was a cross section of secular and religious spanning from music rooted in the pagan winter festivals of the British Isles, and the early Latin carols, dance traditions and, festive wassail songs.

The instruments that Garden will use in his performance are a collection of common bowed stringed instruments from the 17th century. These include the vielle, an early bowed stringed instrument from the medieval period that was still in use in the 17th century similar to the violin, the baroque violin, an early version of the modern instrument, and the pochette, a small portable traveling fiddle, often used by dancing instructors.

David Gardner

Gardner is a nationally recognized Scottish fiddle performer, teacher and judge. He has been performing on the Scottish fiddle since the 1980’s, absorbing the idiom and style of the great 18th century Scottish composers. He is a specialist in the performance of 18th century Scottish music using bows and instruments set up as they would have been in period. Since those early years, He has performed on innumerable occasions, both in colonial taverns and on stage.

Gardner has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology from the College of William and Mary. In years past he performed with various classical ensembles including the Richmond Chamber Players and the Richmond Philharmonic Orchestra. He is currently a member of the nationally recognized musical trio, The Virginia Company, with whom he has performed at the Kennedy Center, the National Geographic Society, the Bethlehem Music Festival, Longwood Gardens, Plymouth Plantation, Monticello and Mount Vernon, among other venues.

Gardner is a professional fiddle judge officially sanctioned by the North American Association for Scottish Fiddling, (Scottish FIRE).

Hampton History Museum

Admission to the concert is free for museum members, and $5.00 for non-members. The Hampton History Museum is located at 120 Old Hampton Lane in downtown Hampton. There is free parking in the garage across the street from the museum. For more information call 757/727-1102 or visit www.HamptonHistoryMuseum.org.