SATURDAY, June 16
2:00-3:00pm
Enjoy a unique, 60-minute concert that invokes the spirit and time of the American Revolution through a selection of 18th-century music performed on a glass armonica. You'll hear the music and stories of Ben Franklin’s glass armonica from the 18th century to modern times and learn how this rare instrument inspired Mozart, Jefferson, and many others to write for and about it’s mysterious beauty. This concert will include classical and traditional music associated with the history of the glass armonica by Colonial Williamsburg musician, Dean Shostak.
General Public: $30
Museum Members: $25
*Ticket price includes general admission to Fraunces Tavern Museum and all of its gallery spaces.
Tickets will NOT be shipped in the mail. Your tickets will be sent to you via email. You will receive a confirmation email from Fraunces Tavern Museum with event details within 24 business hours. Please be sure to check your spam folder if you do not receive an email within that time frame.
About the Glass Armonica
Invented by Benjamin Franklin in 1761, the glass armonica is a rare and beautiful instrument. Today, there are only ten glass armonica players in the world. Instead of using an electric motor to spin the glasses, Dean Shostak is the only glass armonica player since the 18th century to use a flywheel and foot treadle as Franklin originally designed. He continues to perform candlelight concerts weekly at the Governor’s Palace in Colonial Williamsburg.
About Dean Shostak
Dean Shostak began his music career in Colonial Williamsburg at age 14 performing violin in the Music Teacher’s Shop. Over the years, Dean’s musical responsibilities expanded to performing in evening concerts throughout the historic area.
Dean earned a B.A. in Music from the University of Virginia while continuing to perform in Williamsburg during his summer and holiday breaks. After college, Dean began exploring some of the more unusual instruments that were popular in the 18th century. He began playing the pocket violin, which was a miniature fiddle gentlemen would keep on their person. In 1994, he traveled to France to learn to play the hurdy-gurdy, a French instrument similar to the violin but uses a wheel to rub the strings instead of a bow. And finally, Dean became involved in the revival of the rare and beautiful glass armonica.
Dean has emerged as a major American musical talent combining his years of performing period and contemporary music, composition, recordings, and arts management. Based in Williamsburg, where he performs over 200 concerts, he also performs in schools, universities, and festivals throughout the country. His music has been featured on Voice of America, The Weather Channel, The Discovery Channel and at The Arena Stage in Washington DC. Dean and his music have been featured on CBS’s The Early Show, CNN, NPR's All Things Considered, BBC's Good Morning Television, on Haven with Joy Philbin, Home and Garden Television's Christmas of Yesteryear, NBC's Nightside, PBS's The Victory Garden, and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. In 2006, Dean was named the glass armonica player for the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary, featured in special concerts and in a video display with the traveling exhibit. Dean is a featured musician in a video exhibit in the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, AZ.
This event is being present in partnership with Path Through History.
