Vermont Fiddle Orchestra's Winter Concert

The Vermont Fiddle Orchestra (VFO) will host English ritual dance fiddler Laurel Swift at its December 6th concert at the Barre Opera House. Swift will lead the orchestra on four tunes and also play two sets on her own. A musician, singer and dancer, Laurel Swift is an inspired instigator of creative projects and performances rooted in English folk arts. Swift plays with Gadarene, The Gloworms and founded Morris Offspring. She co-created Under Her Skin with Debs Newbold, teaches widely and is writing a folk musical! Swift moved to Brattleboro from the UK 2.5 years ago. According to Swift, “English Dance music has a lot of different rhythms and grooves, and the tunes have a lot of space in them that makes room for players to add variation, harmony, rhythm according to the needs of the dance floor or occasion. I particularly enjoy 3/2 hornpipes, a type of tune that almost disappeared, but has made a reappearance thanks to manuscripts, creativity and curiosity.” Two of the tunes that Swift will play with the VFO are 3/2 hornpipes. The performance will be at the Barre Opera House on December 6th at 7:00 PM. Admission will be by donation. In addition to the tunes it plays with Swift, the VFO will perform traditional tunes from Quebec, Scandinavia, and the British Isles, as selected and arranged by the orchestra’s Music Director, Peter Macfarlane, who will lead and perform with the orchestra. Susan Reid, the Assistant Music Director, will also perform with the orchestra. Concert sponsors are: Vermont Violins, Vermont Mutual Insurance Company, and Northfield Savings Bank