It Takes a Village … to Hold a Music Festival

Actually it takes many villages – more than a dozen -- in the Monadnock Region to host the annual summer Monadnock Music Festival. The village concert festival – now in its 46th year -- is a series of free classical music concerts set in intimate New England venues – from town halls to churches to historic meeting houses.

“What has always made Monadnock Music special is the intimacy of our venues and the quality and range of offerings across a spectrum of periods, styles and genres,” says William Chapman, executive director of Monadnock Music.

The 2012 summer festival season – July 6-August 11 -- brings some rising stars and renowned artists; selections include a season-long examination of the works of Virgil Thomson, the return of opera, Sanford Sylvan and Appalachian Spring. At the helm of the season is Monadnock Music’s new artistic director, Gil Rose, the former artistic director of Boston Modern Orchestra Project and Opera Boston, and a three-time Grammy Award nominee.

The concert series is a perfect excuse to catch a world-class concert, and explore some old New England villages in the Monadnock Region such Peterborough, Harrisville, Wilton, Francestown, Walpole, Jaffrey and Dublin.  It is also a way to get to know village residents, who come out in droves to support the concert series; the goal of the concert series, after all, say organizers, is to make classical music accessible to people in rural areas.

So, this summer, spend a day (or night) in some of the Monadnock Region’s most picturesque towns – and listen to some beautiful music.   Complete your evening of classical music with an overnight stay at one of our many wonderful local B&Bs or inns.

Here’s the lineup:

Note: Village Concerts are free, other concerts require ticket purchase; visit Monadnock Music  for details and reservations.

Friday, July 6, 7:30 pm – Peterborough Town House
Town House Concert (tickets required)
OPENING NIGHT

Monadnock Sinfonietta performs music commissioned by Martha Graham

Sunday, July 8, 3:00 pm – Harrisville Community Church
Village Concert (free)
Monadnock Players

Wednesday, July 11, 7:30 pm – Deering Community Church
Village Concert (free)
Guest Artists: Irina Muresanu (violin), Rob Auler (piano)

Friday, July 13, 7:30 pm – Peterborough Town House
Town House Concert (tickets required)
Guest Artist: Claremont Trio

Sunday, July 15, 3:00pm – Wilton Center Unitarian Church
Village Concert (free)
Monadnock Players

Wednesday, July 18, 7:30 pm – Keene Ahavas Achim Synagogue
Village Concert (free)
Guest Artists: Hirsch-Pinkas Duo (pianos), 
Jonathan Hess, Robert Schulz (percussion)

Friday, July 20, 7:30 pm – Peterborough Town House
Town House Concert (tickets required)
Guest artist: Alan Feinberg (piano)

Sunday, July 22, 3:00 pm – Francestown Old Meeting House
Village Concert (free)
Monadnock Players

Wednesday, July 25, 7:30 pm – Temple Community Church
Village Concert (free)
Guest artists: Terry Everson (trumpet), Scott Jarett (organ)

Thursday, July 26, 7:30 pm – Sullivan Congregational Church
Village Concert (free)
Guest Artists: F. A. E. Duo, Nicholas DiEugenio (violin), Chi-Chen Wu (fortepiano)

Sunday July 29, 3:00 pm – Keene Colonial Theatre
Opera Celebration (tickets required)
Guest Artists: Heather Buck (soprano), James Maddalena (baritone), Frank Kelley (tenor), Aaron Engebreth (baritone); directed and conducted by Gil Rose

Wednesday, August 1, 7:30 pm – Hancock Congregational Church
Village Concert (free)
Monadnock Players with Krista River

Thursday, August 2, 7:30 pm – Washington Congregational Church
Village Concert (free)
Monadnock Players

Saturday, August 4, 7:30 pm – Peterborough Town House
Town House Concert (tickets required)
Guest Artists: Sanford Sylvan (baritone), David Breitman (fortepiano)

Sunday, August 5, 3:00 pm – Walpole Unitarian Church
Village Concert (free)
Monadnock Players

Wednesday August 8, 7:30 pm – Jaffrey Center
Village Concert (free)
Monadnock Quartet

Friday, August 10, 7:30 pm – Peterborough All Saints’ Church
Village Concert (free)
Guest Artists: Lorelei Ensemble

Saturday, August 11, 3:00pm – Dublin Emmanuel Church
Village Concert (free)
Monadnock Quartet

Gilsum Rocks!

Forty eight years ago a Gilsum, N.H. postmaster and barber (and apparently an avid rock hound and collector) had an idea to start a “rock swap” in his hometown. The idea was not so far fetched in this tiny town about 10 miles north of Keene, since it was home to many commercial mines that operated until the 1940s that produced feldspar, mica and beryl.

While those mines have long been closed down (although one, the Beauregard Mine is available to mineral clubs by reservation only) the tradition of rocks and minerals lives on with the annual Gilsum Rock Swap & Mineral Show.

In late June this otherwise sleepy town of 807 residents comes alive (yup, it rocks!) when 6,000 to 8,000 people from all over the country roll in to attend the show. The show features about 60 dealers, swappers, collectors and distributors who buy, sell or even swap (which was the original intent of the show 48 years ago) rocks and minerals of all stripes including beryl, quartz crystals, semi-precious stones and more. The displays include not only rough cuts of these rocks, but also fossils, prized collections and semi-precious stones fashioned into beautiful jewelry.

The weekend activities include educational presentations on how semi-precious gemstones are extracted and made into jewelry and how to begin prospecting for minerals yourself. You can also crack a geode, pan for minerals and try your luck at the diamond dig site.

The town of Gilsum opens it arms to visitors for the weekend and features other events all weekend long including a daily pancake brunch, bake sale, book sale, chicken barbeque dinner and a traditional Saturday night New England ham and bean supper with all-you-can-eat homemade pies.  For overnight accommodations, contact one of the local B&Bs, Inns or Cottages.

The Gilsum Rock Swap & Mineral Show takes place this year on June 23 and 24, 2012 at the Gilsum Elementary School fields, Route 10 in Gilsum, just north of Keene, N.H. (about a 2-hour drive from Boston). Show hours are 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday and 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday. Admission to the event is free, although donations are appreciated; the proceeds from contributions are earmarked for the town’s youth recreation and community programs.

And this year, as a special tribute to the originator of the event, Francis “Bunk” Malony’s entire rock collection will be on display on Saturday at the Gilsum Historical Society from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

If you love rocks and minerals – or you just love a great community event -- this is a show that you cannot miss! For more information visit Gilsum Rocks!

Secret Gardens

For a gardener, there is something enticing about a “secret garden” … those home gardens that you might catch a small but inviting glimpse of an arbor, the turn of stone path, a flower bed alive with color.   For us avid gardeners, it takes every ounce of restraint not to edge in and take a closer peek.

The best way to indulge the voyeuristic gardener in us – and to get new ideas for your own garden – is to go on a garden tour. The most popular garden tour in the Monadnock Region is the annual Secret Gardens of Keene.

The Secret Gardens of Keene tour, hosted by the Cheshire Housing Trust, is held this year (rain or shine) on June 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The tour is actually a successful fundraiser for the nonprofit organization to support its mission to provide affordable housing for moderate- to low-income families (the Cheshire Housing Trust runs 63 affordable apartments or rooms in Keene, Marlborough and Hinsdale).

Each year the tour features new gardens throughout Keene – from traditional landscapes to more eclectic gardening styles. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $12 each at various locations throughout the region, or purchased at the day of the tour for $15 at Ashuelot River Park (273 West Street in Keene).

Once the Secret Gardens of Keene tour day is over, make sure you mark your calendar for The Garden Conservancy’s “Open Days” which will be held twice this year in the Monadnock Region.

The Garden Conservancy’s Monadnock Region Open Days:

• June 30, 2012, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. A tour of four exquisite private family gardens in Peterborough, Harrisville and Nelson. 
• July 1, 2012, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tour includes gardens in Walpole, Alstead Center and nearby Wilmington, Vt.

Here are some tips for attending a garden tour:

• Stay on the paths. Don’t ever wander into a garden bed.
• Never take any seeds, seedlings or plants without permission.
• Don’t stop in the middle of the pathway – if you want to linger to admire a plant or take photographs let other visitors pass you.
• Don’t go into any roped off areas for any reason.
• Carpool to each location with friends in order to reduce traffic and pollution.
• Thank the host at each stop – it is a lot of work getting a garden ready to be viewed by the general public.

The best way to enjoy a garden tour is with your family or a group of friends. If you are from outside the Monadnock Region, book an overnight stay at a B&B or inn to get an early jump on the tour; and take a break during the middle of the day with lunch at one of the many Monadnock Region’s restaurants.

Mt. Monadnock: The Mountain that Stands Alone

Our region is defined by Mt. Monadnock, an Abenaki word that means “mountain that stands alone.” Mt. Monadnock, a stately mountain that rises to 3,165 feet at the summit, can be seen from just about every corner of the region and with its bald top has panoramic views of six New England states.

While its certainly not as tall as Mt. Fuji – the most climbed mountain in the world – Mt. Monadnock still ranks #2 in the world for the most climbers (about 120,000 hikers reach its summit every year). It is a favorite among hikers for several reasons according to the “Monadnock Guide,” the little booklet first published in 1970 by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests:

• It has a bare summit area; you can see as you climb. Most of the trails are open to views 2/3 of the way. And the view from the top is spectacular; on a clear day you can see the Boston skyline.
• It has variety – in landscape, flora and its many routes to the top: Mt Monadnock Hiking Trails Printable Map (pdf)
• It has historic interest. It has been climbed by people for centuries and has been the subject of poems, essays and paintings – from the transcendental writings of Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson to the iconic paintings of Abbot Handerson Thayer.  According to the site MonadnockMountain.com, there are even operas, symphonies, waltzes and Morris dances written about it.
• It’s easy to get to from major metropolitan areas in the Northeast.

So when visiting the Monadnock Region, don’t forget to pack your hiking boots for a trip to the summit of Mt. Monadnock.

But before you go, here are some tips to make your hike fun and safe:

1. Don’t expect a walk in the park. While climbing Mt. Monadnock doesn’t require sophisticated hiking gear, expect to break a sweat while climbing over bus-sized boulders to make it to the top. Wear sturdy hiking shoes.
2. Allow 4-5 hours for the round-trip hike. Make sure you arrive early enough so that you are not caught descending the mountain at nightfall.
3. Bring food and water. And remember that Monadnock State Park is a carry in/carry out park – you’ll need to take out all your trash.
4. Leave your dog at home. As much as you’d like to take your pooch along, there are not pets allowed in the park.
5. Know the routes. The easiest route to the top is the White Cross Trail (serious hikers may want to try the White Dot Trail, which is a better challenge).
6. Bring money for the admission fee. Admission is $4 for adults, $2 for children ages 6-11. Free admission for children ages 5 and under and N.H. residents age 65 or over.

The Monadnock State Park is located off Route 124 near Jaffrey, N.H. and is open year round. The best times to climb are late spring through fall season. For more information visit the New Hampshire State Parks website.

Your local innkeeper should have plenty information about climbing Mt Monadnock and other great hikes around the area.