The Universal Harpsichord with Mariken Palmboom

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GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The Berkshire Bach Society concludes its 2021-2022 season on Saturday, June 18, 2022 at 4pm with harpsichordist Mariken Palmboom in a concert of harpsichord music from Germany, England, Italy, and France at the New Marlborough Meeting House.
 
"We have so many harpsichord fans in our audience we thought we'd indulge them by presenting a program dedicated solely to music for the instrument," said Terrill McDade, Interim Executive Director of The Berkshire Bach Society.  "There is such a wide variety of repertoire to choose from. As with the church organ, the harpsichord was truly universal in the Baroque era and it's enlightening to hear how composers from different countries wrote for it. Mariken has selected works that really display the differences and the similarities, which makes for something of a grand European tour in this concert." 
 
Educated at the Royal Conservatories in The Hague and Antwerp, harpsichordist Mariken Palmboom, has performed throughout Europe and the U.S. as a soloist and ensemble player in important early music festivals and other venues.  She teaches both here and abroad, and has frequently led Baroque chamber music workshops in Holland, California, the Berkshires, and elsewhere.  
 
The program includes works by J.S. Bach, Byrd, Frescobaldi, Louis and François Couperin, and Domenico Scarlatti, and is an anniversary of sorts—the first book of Bach's Clavier and François Couperin's third book of his Pieces for Keyboard were both published in 1722, three hundred years ago.   
 
Tickets available at the door and online at www.berkshirebach.org/events.  All seats $35, Berkshire Bach member discounts apply, and as always, children under 18 and students with valid ID admitted free.
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Lt. Governor Driscoll Visits Great Barrington Businesses

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, Housing Secretary Ed Augustus and state Rep. Leigh Davis are ready to chop wood out back of Pleasant and Main. 

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll did some holiday shopping on Main Street last week after announcing millions of federal Community Development Block Grant funds

She was glad to see an array of small-business owners thriving, and the eclectic items that Great Barrington has to offer. 

"We know that the vibrancy of communities can often be defined by what's happening on Main Street," she said. 

"It's great to be here in Great Barrington and see so many independent entrepreneurs who are running really, not only fun, but businesses that are doing well, and we want to try and find ways to uplift and support that work moving forward." 

State Rep. Leigh Davis coordinated a business tour with Pleasant and Main Cafe and General Store, Robbie's Community Market, and Butternut Ski Mountain. While downtown, Driscoll also stopped at Coco's Candy and Rob's Records and Audio. 

Earlier that day, the Healey-Driscoll administration announced $33.5 million in federal CDBG funds at the Housatonic Community Center. Great Barrington, in conjunction with Egremont and Stockbridge, has been allocated $ 1.25 million to rehabilitate approximately 14 housing units.  A new Rural and Small Town Housing Choice Community designation for its Housing Choice Initiative was also launched. 

Davis emphasized the significance of the state announcing these dollars in the small village of Housatonic.  

Craig Bero, founder of Pleasant and Main, prepared desserts and hors d'oeuvres for the group at his cozy cafe across the street from the Housatonic Community Center. Bero opened more than a decade ago after migrating from New York City, and Pleasant and Main offers sustainable, organic meals for an affordable price while enjoying the museum of antiques that is the restaurant. 

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