Celebrate the coming of summer under the open sky at the Main House's Cloister Garden with Folk and Fiddle, a captivating concert of string quartets inspired by folk traditions. This enchanting evening invites you to experience the vibrant essence of folk music through an engaging performance that blends folk-inspired melodies with the charm of a live string quartet, all set against the picturesque backdrop of Planting Fields. In the event of rain, the concert will be held in the Main House’s beautiful Great Hall. 

The evening opens with Manuel de Falla’s Spanish Dance No. 1, a lively piece that captures the fiery spirit and rhythmic vibrancy of Spanish folk dance in just four minutes. Following this, immerse yourself in a Danish String Quartet Suite, that artfully combines sophistication with fiddling flair. 

Next, enjoy Florence Price’s Four Folk Songs in Counterpoint, an exploration of American folk traditions, where Price’s intricate counterpoint enriches the soulful, folk-inspired melodies including “My Darling Clementine” and “Swing Low Sweet Chariot.” After a brief intermission, let the energetic rhythms of Béla Bartók’s Romanian Folk Dances transport you with their vibrant Eastern European melodies and energizing spirit. 

The evening culminates with Antonín Dvořák’s American Quartet, a monumental work that masterfully weaves American folk influences with Romantic elegance. This exuberant quartet reflects Dvořák’s deep engagement with American musical traditions, offering rhythms and lyrical beauty that echo the spirit of the New World.