Early arrivals to the New World landed with the musical sounds of their homelands—ballads, dance tunes, and sonatas — as part of their identities. Slaves arriving in chains also brought their music; they sang to find solace and to pass information. The trio Entwyned will share images and historical context to set the stage for their performance of music from the era prior to the American Revolution from Europe — England, Scotland, Ireland, Spain, Germany, and France — alongside the musical cultures of those who arrived against their will as slaves. The imported tunes, traditions, and instruments of these early arrivals to the colonies evolved into American sounds that we know and love today.
Dee (Demaris) Hansen (MA, Music History; Phd, Musical Arts) is a professor emerita of music education and author of 100 Years of Hartt: A Centennial Celebration (Wesleyan University Press, 2020). She served as director of Hartt Graduate Studies, chair of Graduate Studies in Music Education, and was director of The Hartt Summerterm graduate program (2006-2014). Dr. Hansen specializes in curriculum and assessment development, music and literacy connections, brain research, and learning theory. She is the primary author of The Music and Literacy Connection (2025, 3rd ed.). She performs with the Entwyned Early Music trio as a Renaissance and Baroque flautist, Celtic harpist, and Baroque guitarist.
Eric Hansen retired in 2019 from the Connecticut State Library as Electronic Resources Coordinator. He holds a master’s degree in music history and completed postgraduate work in musicology at the University of Chicago with the late Howard Mayer Brown. He performed as a professional bassist and lutenist in concerts and on recordings with nationally known musicians including Mannheim Steamroller. Over the years Eric has played the lute on two gold albums and two multi-platinum albums.
Neal Humphreys is the manager of Student Academic Services for The Hartt School. He graduated from The Hartt School with bachelor's and master's degrees in Cello Performance with an emphasis in chamber music. He delights audiences all over with an expansive and eclectic array of musical styles and influences.
Friday, Feb. 20 | 2 p.m.–3:30 p.m. | The McAuley (off-campus/West Hartford) | $20
Made possible in part by the generosity of the Richard P. Garmany Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.
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