ForkTalks: Heart-to-heart

Hey All,

Tonight (Tuesday) is our event at the Dawson, it will be a wonderful wonderful time, and we would be thrilled to see all of you there. We have been talking about it nonstop, and I'm sure you're tired of hearing about it. 

In light of the past few weeks, it is critical to respectfully address the recent tragedies in Lebanon, Kenya, France, Syria, Iraq, the US. Each of them is tragic, and ultimately there is little or nothing available to subside its pain. I range through so many emotions: Heartbreak for all the victims and affected families; outrage over such acts of hatred from many people of all races; guilt that I am ever discontented with my present life; despair that I am unable to affect change with a blog or a wish; deep appreciation for those who surround me with love and support. 

Though we do not have first hand experience to the consequential pain, our hearts go out to all those affected by violence and hatred. Our response may not be militant or political, but we want to use music to reach out to our fellow humans. As musicians, we take this privilege and responsibility very seriously. Performing concerts and holding events like Industry Night and "Giving Thanks for Music" all provide the basis for people to connect and create community and support, learning from the legacies (beautiful and tragic) that our composing predecessors have left for us. In this way we can also offer our support to those who are suffering today, and change tomorrow. 

We strive to honor those who lived before us, who documented the hate and love that affected their lives through their music. Through their musical memoirs, maybe we can keep our hearts and minds open towards understanding and change. Able to dissolve the barriers of race, religion, age, education, politics, and socioeconomic level, music connects people on a visceral level that many philosophers have noted throughout history. 

Communities are potentially capable of beautiful things together. Connect. Discuss. Learn. Live.

much love, more food, and even more music,

kit and elizabeth (bh)

Saturday: Musical Offering in Evanston!

Hello All!

We are very excited to be performing our next concert tomorrow (Saturday), April 4, 2015 at 7:30p!

You can find us at Musical Offering, where we will be part of the Music on Madison series.  Tickets can be purchased online or at the door, and are $15.

Our program will include our A-List of composers whose names all begin with B:

Ludwig Beethoven
Benjamin Britten
Amy Beach

For those of you who have been following our Industry Nights, our last two popular vote winners (Benjamin and Amy) will be performed in full!  

The Musical Offering can be found in Evanston at 743 Custer Avenue.

We hope to see you there!!

--BH

INDUSTRY NIGHT: COALFIRE EDITION

Hi all!

Tonight (Tuesday) at 8p is our latest installment of "Industry Night"!  We are so lucky and excited to present COALFIRE PIZZA as our restaurant collaborator for the evening.  For those of you who don't know this place, follow the link to their website!

As a small background to this place, film director John Hughes loved its pizza so much, he modeled his own kitchen to resemble the coal fire ovens that make Coalfire's pizzas still.

Tonight, you get to eat John Hughes' favorite pizza.  We hope you're as eager as we are!

Can't wait to see you at 8p!

Sincerely,
BH

Note from Green Grocer!

Hi All!!

Here's a note from our buddy Ethan, who represented Green Grocer at our last Industry Night!  Thanks again for helping us kick off such a wonderful event!!

--BH

Thanks Team Bow & Hammer for getting us involved in your most recent evening of great music and great people.  We loved providing the spread of food and getting to show off some of what we do.  It is amazing to see friends and strangers brought together, sitting around a table of food, and sharing music.  It also felt great to see that not much food remained at the end of it all!

Come visit us at the corner of Grand and Noble for thoughtful and amazing products from small local producers and farms. 

And we also hope that everyone was able to try the pickles the that Robyn and I make.  Central Pickling, if anyone is trying to remember the name.  They happen to be available at the Green Grocer and at spots around Chicago.  Like us on Facebook (facebook.com/centralpickling) and see where they are available close to you!

Industry Night with Green Grocer

Hello all!

What a great Industry Night we had on Tuesday February 28!

Thanks so much to Green Grocer for providing our lovely cheeses, breads, dips, pickles, and wine!

BH with Ethan, who was our Green Grocer ally!

For those of you who had to leave early, the results of the popularity vote were:

2nd Runner Up:  Ludwig (Beethoven)
1st Runner Up:  Amy (Beach)

WINNER:  BENJAMIN (Britten)

Mini clip of Benjamin

Thanks for all your votes and support.  Benjamin will be back on our Sound Flight to defend his championship at our next Industry Night, which will take place on:

TUESDAY MARCH 31, 2015 at 8:00p.  Same place!  Mark your calendars!!  We can't wait to see you there!

Here are some other photos and video clips from the night!  Thanks for all the love.  See you soon!

--BH

American in Paris, by Gershwin, transcribed by Heifetz

Friends and Other Events in our Community

Hello everyone!

We just had a very nice concert at Sherwood Community Music school, giving a special thank you to our donors, and sharing some of our stories from our Italian trip!  Thanks so much to all of you who came and supported us!!

A crucial component of our success as an ensemble is the community support we have received from those around us.  The often daunting and sometimes overwhelming responsibility of founding and maintaining a quality group would not be possible without those willing to cheer us on.

This blog is to pay our support forward to some other groups and events occurring that we are excited about, and feel are worth sharing with you (as individuals, we were privileged to work with them!!).  Please check them out!

1.  THE MEDIUM, by Gian Carlo Menotti, presented by Third Eye Theatre Ensemble
**Kit worked with Third Eye as assistant director in this wonderfully chilling production that addresses pertinent issues in today's society while bringing opera to an intimate level.  

When:  October 24, 25, 26, 31, November 1, 2 (LAST WEEKEND!)
Where:  Collaboraction's Pentagon Theater in the Flat Iron Arts Building
1579 N. Milwaukee Ave., Suite 336





Purchase tickets at
http://thirdeyete.brownpapertickets.com
Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.

Questions:
You can contact them via email at:  info@thirdeyete.com or via phone:  847-430-4341

2.  MODE ENSEMBLE
** Elizabeth worked with Mode on their last concert event, "The Green Fairy".  They create a complete atmospheric experience to enhance the musical performance.  "The Green Fairy" included a collection of French composers, and guests were invited to join for a pre-concert cocktail of Absinthe.  

Until next time!!

--BH