I fear I have depleted my repertoire of superlatives for this amazing man: one of the most inspirational and inspired musicians of any ilk I own at least a dozen of his recordings; these have given me but also a much deeper appreciation of the featured composers No one witnessing his sold-out Gardner debut on Sunday will soon forget his extraordinary feats of pianism and his brilliant musicianship Few artists could so successfully pull off a concert of so Many Brave New (to us) Works he has dedicated much of his repertoire to resurrecting overlooked composers from the mid and distant past as well as directing our attention to living ones making made a strong case for each and every one Many examples would have frightened all but the most intrepid pianists; in his recordings as well as in yesterday’s concert one wondered about where it had BEEN in one’s whole listening life After he played the delightful Haydn Sonata in D Major and insights (I strongly recommend his 3-CD set of Haydn’s piano sonatas on Hyperion) “Are you ready for something completely different?” turning his attention to Frank Zappa (1940-93) and his six-minute Ruth is Sleeping (1991) Thence he gave us Stephan Wolpe’s intricate and undeservedly obscure Passacaglia for Piano from 1936 According to Thom Jurek’s review of a 1954 recording: If the keyboard has limits to its mechanical, structural, and expressionist capabilities, Wolpe never seemed to find them Fantasies build upon a clustered seventh or ninth and the counterpoint moves in direction that are diametrically rather than just harmonically in opposition There is no seeking of resolution only more conflict — particularly in the third movement and fancy — even if the entire harmonic scale is built of flats There is a kind of serial organization in the “Passacaglia for Piano,” but it is one of Wolpe’s own design and includes chromatic and tonal devices and the exertion of pitch When interviewed he downplayed the importance of pitch saying it was “just a part of the drama.” Fellow Canadian John Oswald wrote TIP in 2021 to a Hamelin commission It felt like a fabulous musical parlor game “a piece without a single ordinal note in it.” In this fun pastiche of 40 quotes and the theme from Bach’s Goldberg Variations In keeping with the Gardner’s current practice stagehands turned the piano around 180 degrees during the intermission; thus those of us watching his hands the first half now I don’t usually care about musicians’ hands but in this case watching Hamelin’s alone justified the price of admission Hamelin began the second half with a set by Nicholai Medtner (1880-1951) a Russian composer whom Hamelin has long championed consisting of Improvisation in B-flat Minor (in variation form) Then came two Rachmaninoff gems: his gorgeous (and rather well-known) Étude-Tableau I had never heard the sonata performed live What a monstrous feat of virtuosity and musicianship “Please allow me something like a rest,” our intrepid pianist asked before beginning his four-minute encore Duke Ellington’s Single Petal of a Rose bloomed as the highlight of the whole afternoon 7 Comments » Categories Reviews 7 Comments [leave a civil comment (others will be removed) and please disclose relevant affiliations]Rachmaninoff’s Piano Sonata no 2 is probably his greatest large-scale solo piano work It’s like the Rach 2 of his solo repertoire I didn’t attend this recital unfortunately (didn’t even know Hamelin was playing in Boston!) But having heard him live at least half a dozen times the question for me regarding Marc-Andre Hamelin is why is this living treasure here in Boston not sufficiently recognized the BSO is happy to book for a Beethoven master class (in their recent cycle) but they conspicuously do not book him to play with the BSO in Symphony I think of Hamelin as one of the 5 greatest living pianists (in my opinion in the company of Argerich and Yefim Bronfman – and Beatrice Rana is knocking at the door) But I’m at a complete loss to understand why Marc-Andre Hamelin is not appreciated for the unbelievable pianist that he is Comment by Mogulmeister — February 4 I totally agree with ALL of Mogulmeister’s thoughts The workings of the BSO are pretty mysterious but it’s up to the management who they hire and they have lost my respect entirely by not hiring Mark-André Comment by Susan Miron — February 4 I seem to recall attending a terrific concert several years ago by Mark-Andre sponsored by the Celebrity Series Perhaps the Celebrity Series might sponsor a concert by him during the 25-26 season Despite fairly regular decadeslong kvetching / lobbying by local reviewers and fans Russell Sherman never played with the BSO under the music director except one time (Ozawa) when Pollini fell ill and Sherman subbed at the last minute A handful of appearances with guest conductors I remember hearing Hamelin play twice with the BSO: once the Shostakovich 1st Concerto in Symphony Hall and once the Beethoven 5th Concerto at Tanglewood Those concerts were fifteen or twenty years ago I have often wondered why he has not appeared with the orchestra since then Comment by George Hungerford — February 6 RSS feed for comments on this post. If you would like to contribute articles or reviews to the Intelligencer, please familiarize yourself with our submission guidelines.  Subscribe to the Intelligencer. Charles Hamelin is also a three-time Olympic champion In winning a fifth Olympic medal in the 5,000m relay at PyeongChang 2018 he equalled the Canadian record in the discipline and remains hungry for more medals Short track speed skating has always been a passion in the Hamelin family Father Yves was the head of the Canadian national team between 2006 and 2014 Charles has led the way in terms of international experience Hamelin won his first Olympic medal in Turin’s Palavela arena in 2006 François-Louis Tremblay and Mathieu Turcotte to take silver for Canada in the relay They were denied the gold by the quartet from the Republic of Korea who finished three-tenths of a second ahead of them in the final then signalled his potential as he finished fourth in the 1,500m as over the following four years the Canadian went on to establish himself as a major international force His sights were very much set on the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver but his Games got off to a disappointing start with him only managing fourth in the 1,500m and seventh in the 1,000m he had two golden opportunities to transform his Games as he lined up in the 500m final and then the 5,000m relay Hamelin produced a dream performance to win gold in front of an adoring home crowd setting a new Olympic record in the process He was joined on the podium by compatriot François-Louis Tremblay there was no time for either of them to savour their achievements as within minutes they were back on the ice for the team event in which they were joined by Olivier Jean and Hamelin’s younger brother to implement what they had dubbed ‘Operation Cobra’ The race for the medals was extremely close with only four tenths of a second separating the four top teams The Canadian quartet’s plan worked to perfection as anchorman Tremblay broke free in the last few laps of the final leg to lead his team to victory - edging defending champions the Republic of Korea into second place The crowd at the Pacific Coliseum went wild and the picture of Hamelin’s girlfriend Marianne St-Gelais running down from the stand to embrace him became one of the 2010 Games’ most iconic images In the four years leading up to Sochi 2014 collecting another 11 World Championship medals including three consecutive golds in the 5,000m relay (2011 the Canadian went into the 1,500m - the opening short-track event at Sochi’s Iceberg Skating Palace - as firm favourite and he lived up to his billing in imperious fashion sweeping aside his rivals to claim a third Olympic title The 29-year-old used all his experience to keep out of trouble while several of his competitors fell to the ice and out of the competition Celski attempted to attack the Canadian with eight laps to go but Hamelin countered two laps later to move to the front of the pack seeing off Han Tianyu and Victor An of Russia “I couldn’t have dreamed of it going any better - returning to the Games and then winning gold in the 1,500m people have said this distance was my weak spot The 2013/14 season ended with Hamelin topping the 1,000m and 1,500m World Cup standings he pocketed gold in the 1,500m at the world championships in Montreal where he also took bronze in the 500m and the overall While continuing to shine on the World Cup stage where he recorded his 37th individual race win in 2017 Hamelin added a 1,000m gold to his collection of World Championship medals in 2016 in Seoul adding a 3,000m bronze and 5,000m relay and overall silvers for good measure The following year the Canadian picked up a 1,000m bronze at the worlds in Rotterdam 2017 before heading to PyeongChang 2018 as one of Canada’s biggest short track medal hopes Things did not go Hamelin’s way in the individual events at his fourth Olympic Games His 1,500m title defence ended in disqualification after he finished a long way behind the new champion and he suffered the same fate in the semi-finals of the 1,000m and the 500m heats Charles Cournoyer and Pascal Dion to win bronze behind China and gold medallists Hungary It was the Quebec skater’s fifth Olympic medal putting him level with Marc Gagnon and François-Louis Tremblay the only other Canadian short track speed skaters to have won as many Hamelin was racing in front of his home fans at the 2018 World Championships in Montreal 12th and 13th world golds of his career in winning the 1,000m The silver he collected in the 5,000m relay saw him make a 40th visit to a world championship podium (13 golds “There were two titles missing in my career: the Olympic 1,000m and the world overall title and to win the second here in Montreal… well I’m just speechless,” said an emotional Hamelin after that long-awaited triumph “To do it here in front of my family and my friends makes me feel young again Does that mean the great Hamelin is considering an appearance at Beijing 2022 “I’m going to reassess that on the way,” came the answer Worker’s Compensation at Public Risk Innovation and Management (PRISM) since 2023 and has held several roles there since 2012 including Director of Workers’ Compensation Supervising Senior Workers' Compensation Claims Specialist and Senior Workers' Compensation Claims Specialist They have held several roles at York Insurance Services Group from 2001 to 2011 including Assistant Vice President of Workers’ Compensation Hamelin is a member of the board of directors of Project Go Inc They are a member of the California Coalition on Workers’ Compensation and the Association of Governmental Risk Pools Note: This is a service provided by Google Google Translate cannot translate all types of documents This past Thursday at Centro Culturale Chiasso the world-famous pianist Marc-Andrè Hamelin gave a recital with some well-known pieces and some of his “pet project” composers like Medtner in the form of Rondò in A minor K.511 from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 3: “A Festive Dance.” The concert finished with real fireworks by Sergei Rachmaninoff: Etude-Tableau op any form of introduction of the Canadian pianist Marc-Andrè Hamelin is unnecessary Due to his worldwide activities and more than 50 discs he is one of the most well-known pianists today but none of them can beat his steady performance of the last decades remaining firmly anchored in the musically excellent level and a “nearly superhuman technique,” as it was described by the legendary critic Harold C the expectations were quite high for the evening The choice to start this recital with Mozart’s Rondò K.511 and its delicate colors was a wise one no more problems; everything dissolved in this apparently easy music overcoming the repetitive structure of this score 3 is one of Ludwig van Beethoven’s early sonatas composed in 1795 and dedicated to his teacher Joseph Haydn It is a virtuoso and dynamic piece that showcases Beethoven’s evolving style and mastery of the classical form “Allegro con brio,” is vibrant and energetic contrasting lyrical themes and powerful chords well-planned rendering with a profound knowledge of the structure “Adagio,” a serene and expressive slow movement song-like quality and is known for its emotional depth the pianist showcased his enormous capacity for control characterized by sudden dynamic shifts and syncopation Maybe some more agogic liberty would’ve been helpful the real realm of Marc-André Hamelin followed were a nice opportunity for the pianist to finally display his famous steel-like technique — a real treat for the numerous public and truly appreciated Sergei Rachmaninoff composed his Piano Sonata No during a particularly productive period in his life shortly after finishing his Choral Symphony “The Bells.” This work is one of his most challenging and masterful compositions embodying the emotional intensity and technical brilliance characteristic of his late Romantic style interpreters prefer his preludes or etude-tableaux That might be the reason why Rachmaninoff revised the sonata in 1931 making substantial cuts to the original score to streamline the piece and improve its overall coherence though some pianists prefer a hybrid version that combines elements of both Hamelin wisely has chosen the short version from thunderous fortissimos to delicate pianissimos The performer must capture the emotional breadth of the work from despair and struggle to triumph and transcendence maybe not at the same speed as Vladimir Horowitz used to play but nevertheless always well-controlled and spectacular Pianist Marc Andrè Hamelin takes a bow at Teatro Chiasso   Giorgio Koukl is a Czech-born pianist/harpsichordist and composer who resides in Lugano Among his many recordings are the complete solo piano works and complete piano concertos of Bohuslav Martinů on the Naxos label He has also recorded the piano music of Tansman Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application and sisters Lois (Jim) Allen and Gail (Don) Rush  Cherished friend and relative to many  A celebration of life will be held at a later date/time.  Arrangements entrusted to Chicagoland Cremation Options in Schiller Park This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors The Sea to Summit Hamelin Synthetic -1C is a well-rounded synthetic sleeping bag ideal for spring and summer wild camping and bivvying For backpackers and wild campers whose priorities when it comes to kit are minimal bulk and weight a down-filled sleeping bag makes way more sense than a synthetic option high-grade down is the undisputed champion of insulation when it comes to overall warmth for weight there are many reasons why you might opt for a synthetic bag and synthetic bags are considerably cheaper making them a good choice for backpackers on a budget Natural down is sourced from ducks and geese usually as a byproduct of the meat industry This means that down gear is obviously not vegan-friendly which is a barrier for some outdoor enthusiasts Even non-vegans may have qualms about the sourcing of down – historically it has been associated with dubious practices such as live-plucking All reputable outdoor brands now use responsibly sourced down but some schemes and certifications are more robust than others and without full supply chain transparency they can still be open to abuse from unscrupulous suppliers the use of recycled fibres such as polyester in both sleeping bag fabrics and fills can make synthetic a better choice from an environmental standpoint which are particularly important here in the UK easier to maintain and quicker drying than down It also offers superior performance in damp conditions If you spend a lot of time battling with condensation in your tent bivvying out in the open or camping in wet weather then synthetic sleeping bags start to make a lot more sense Sea to Summit Hamelin Synthetic -1C sleeping bag 3.5LFTOPrice: £149.95 (RRP: £170)wildbounds.com Check out the women's version 3.0Weight3.0Features4.0Performance3.0Value4.0RRP:£170/$169Sizes:Men’s regular (to fit up to 185cm) and long (up to 198cm) women’s regular (up to 170cm) and long (up to 185cm)Packed size:41x28x18cm (men’s reg and long) 47x30x20cm (women’s long)Weight:1124g/2.5lb(men’s reg) 1645g/3.6oz (women’s long)Insulation:100% RCS-certified multi-denier synthetic insulationMaterials:Bluesign APPROVED 20D recycled polyester shell with non-PFC DWR 20D Bluesign APPROVED recycled polyester linerTemperature rating:Comfort 3°C | Lower limit -1°C (men’s) Comfort -1°C (women’s)Price: £149.95 (RRP: £170)wildbounds.com While synthetic insulation doesn’t match down’s warmth-to-weight ratio the Sea to Summit Hamelin -1C sleeping bag performs better in wet conditions dries faster and is easier to care for – making it a practical and arguably more ethical alternative The Hamelin’s comfort-focused design includes a relaxed mummy shape gender-specific fits and regular or long lengths Clever features such as an extended full-length zip and a half zip on the opposite side of the bag allow ventilation, letting users stick out arms or feet, or open the bag into a quilt. A “quilt lock” system pairs with the Sea to Summit camping quilt for extra warmth Though heavier and bulkier than down equivalents (1.12kg/2.5lb for men’s regular) the trade-off is worthwhile for this bag’s added durability but may lack sufficient warmth in colder conditions unless paired with additional insulation and practical features make it a smart pick for budget-conscious or eco-minded campers who don’t mind a bit of extra weight in exchange for reliability and comfort The men’s Hamelin -1 has EN/ISO lab certified test temperature ratings of comfort 3°C to reflect the fact that women generally feel the cold more than men due to physiological differences This ensures the bags are broadly comparable in terms of real-world warmth though inevitably it also means that the women’s bag is bulkier and heavier due to its extra fill We’d class both as two-to-three season bags rather than full three-season bags. In the UK there’s always a risk that overnight temperatures will drop below zero in early spring and late autumn, especially if you’re wild camping in our hills and mountains so a bag that’s only rated to -1°C doesn’t give you much of a buffer There is a -9°C version of the Hamelin that would certainly qualify as a true three-season bag – but it weighs 1.63kg in the men’s regular size and over 2kg in the women’s regular size The packed dimensions are also rather bulky which starts to make them somewhat impractical for backpackers for summer use – or even on warmer spring and autumn nights if you’re confident the temps won’t drop below single digits – the Hamelin -1C is a good value The Hamelin is stuffed with wadded polyester hollowfibre fill in multiple weights The structure of this fill is designed to trap an insulating layer of warmth within and between the individual fibres thus providing decent levels of insulation It doesn’t loft as quickly or invitingly as natural down since it's a sheet fill rather than a loose fill Nor does it seem to trap heat quite as quickly which means it takes a little longer to warm up when you climb into the sleeping bag it's far less likely to clump or migrate around inside the baffles compared to down fill The synthetic insulation has excellent sustainability credentials It's made from 100% post-consumer recycled fibres as certified by RCS (the recycled claim standard) The RCS verifies recycled content and tracks it from source to the final product The men’s Hamelin -1C in a regular size weighs 1.12kg This is heavier than most three-season down sleeping bags but fairly competitive for a synthetic bag of comparable temperature ratings two of our favourite tried and tested synthetic bags in this class are the Rab Solar Eco 2 (£165 the Hamelin is similarly priced and sits somewhere between those two rivals in terms of overall weight It compresses down to a packed size of 41x28x8cm when packed inside the included stuff sack which is fitted with compression straps to help cinch it down This is still a larger packed size than most lightweight sleeping bags and it does feel a bit big and bulky In terms of weight, it’s certainly ‘backpackable’, but your hiking backpack will probably need to be able to hold a minimum of 60L+ to accommodate it alongside all your other gear There’s no faulting the build quality or the materials used in this bag In addition to the 100% recycled insulation the shell and lining are both Bluesign-approved 20D recycled polyester finished with a PFC-free durable water repellent coating Compared to the 10D or 15D fabrics of ultralight bags the Hamelin is certainly a bit more robust This is reassuring and gives the bag a bit more toughness for mountain bivvies etc The interior of the bag still feels soft and cosy though with a pleasant feel next to the skin that isn’t cold The brand describes the bag’s cut as a contoured ‘relaxed mummy’ fit The taper is not particularly aggressive and we found there was ample room at the footbox Indeed, it strikes a nice balance between thermal efficiency and comfort. Some of Sea to Summit’s more technical sleeping bags such as the Spark -18C have a ‘technical mummy’ shape with a more aggressive taper but this is considerably more generous throughout The fact that the bag also comes in gender-specific fits and two lengths for both men and women is also a bonus since it makes it easier to find a bag to suit your frame and therefore minimise dead space at the foot end The men’s regular will accommodate users up to 183cm (6ft 1in) tall while the long length will fit users up to 198cm (6ft 6in) The long is also four inches wider at the shoulders and knees compared to the regular size Meanwhile the women’s bag is designed for users up to 170cm/5ft 7in (regular) or 183cm/6ft (long) the longer length is four inches wider at the knees and shoulders – and Sea to Summit gives buyers a specific size guide on the product pages of its website (though annoyingly which would be particularly useful for female campers) If the bag’s size and shape are built with comfort in mind This was a strength of Sea to Summit’s older synthetic bags so it’s good to see that thinking carried through to the new Hamelin bags It makes a lot of sense for a bag that's designed for use in warmer summer weather as well as cooler spring and autumn conditions With use across this potentially wide temperature range in mind which extends around the footbox so you can either create a foot vent to stick your legs through – or even open the bag right out to create a sort of hooded quilt there’s a half-length zip on the opposite side which enables you to poke both arms out of the bag This is not only great for staying cool but also for camp/tent tasks such as brewing up in the morning without having to leave the cosy warmth of your sleeping bag the Hamelin also has two plastic press-studs or snaps on either side of the chin This is a ‘quilt lock’ designed to work in conjunction with Sea to Summit quilts like the Ember so you can create a modular system for extra warmth In colder conditions you can lay a quilt on top of the bag and attach it via the snaps to stop it from sliding off in the night multi-panelled shape and can be adjusted via an external drawcord Around the neck – a key point of vulnerability for heat loss – you get a half-length chin baffle to minimise draughts which can also be cinched in via a cordlock Other nice design touches include hanger loops anti-snag zipper sliders and an angled ‘shark fin’ footbox which is profiled to allow your feet to rest in a natural position (although this is only optimised for back sleepers) The Sea to Summit Hamelin Synthetic -1C is a versatile comfortable and practical synthetic bag with great eco credentials and user-friendly features It performs better than a down sleeping bag in wet conditions and is easier to care for it’s particularly well suited to spring-summer bivvying and wild camping provided you don’t mind carrying a little extra weight and bulk Matt Jones is a freelance journalist based in the heart of Snowdonia National Park he’s a vastly experienced gear tester and self-confessed outdoor kit geek Matt’s been one of our main gear testers for the last couple of years and is the first person we call with any complicated kit queries that need in-depth and forensic analysis Company number 01176085; Bauer Radio Limited Company number: 1394141; Registered office: Media House Peterborough PE2 6EA and H Bauer Publishing Company number: LP003328; Registered office: The Lantern H Bauer Publishing are authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA (Ref No: 845898) son of the late Harvey and Helen (Baribeau) Hamelin He attended schools in Adams and graduated from Hoosac Valley High School Hamelin worked for 32 years for the Berkshire Gas Company in Pittsfield until his retirement in September 2019 John Paul II at Notre Dame des Sept Douleurs Church Scott Hamelin of North Adams and Evan Hamelin of Pownal; two sisters Ruth Lennon of Savoy and Carol Lawson and her husband Keith of Adams; one grandson Blake Hamelin and by many nieces and nephews The family would like to thank the staff at Springside Unit C and Hospice Care in the Berkshires for their attention and care given to Craig Calling hours AT THE CHURCH are Friday morning from 10:00 A.M © 2025 Boxcar Media LLC - All rights reserved Our weekly email is chockful of interesting and relevant insights into Jewish history Gluckel understood a childrearing mystery: Why don't our kids love us more even though not specifically mentioned in the Talmud should be a Jewish Holiday considering the fame of the Jewish mama in song and story Raising kids today is no picnic and mamas need all the help they can get They would certainly benefit from a counseling session with a 17th century Jewish memoirist – a prodigious mother named Gluckel of Hameln (with that name you gotta be good) This worthy woman lived many centuries ago in Germany; the product of a well-to-do family who was given in marriage at the age of 14 to a prominent merchant The adolescent wife blossomed into Motherhood and produced twelve children But even more important than enriching her obstetrician she somehow found time to write her memoirs They reflect a talented and bountiful mother who thoughtfully leaves us a legacy in the form of her memoirs – full of advice to her children Her reflections naturally mirror the values of her times Gluckel was a stay-at-homer whose primary profession was childrearing exhort them to be able parents: “We should put ourselves to great pains for our children Long ago – over 3 centuries ago – Gluckel understood a childrearing mystery that we haven’t yet figured out Why don’t our kids write more often Citibank corresponds with a note and a new credit card For eighteen years we fill their little minds with wisdom wipe their little runny noses and load up their little arms with presents That beats your Eli’s correspondence record the phone is ringing off the hook; complete strangers – not your kids on the line I just wanted to tell you of our new rug cleaning service.. And our people will be in your neighborhood Tuesday only $75." Even if you have no rug worth cleaning because your kids ruined it ages ago it’s nice to know somebody cares about your rug and you your kids will never reciprocate with the constant Particularly since you’re a prince of parents – generous an all 'round fascination to the rest of the human race and the restaurant that sends you a coupon redeemable for a free iced tea.) Well this is the puzzle that Gluckel of Hameln examined and explained she tells us of a mother eagle who must ferry her brood over a stormy sea to a new nest Four fledglings depend on her – four perilous trips She fights a head wind; her wings grow weak "Do you love me?" the mother asks her first offspring "and will you promise to repay me for this?" But number four gives the universally honest answer for offspring of every breed "I can only promise that when I have my own children I shall do as much for them as you have done for me." The weary mother knew the truth when she heard it So she fought the wind and her fatigue and brought her child and the father of her grandchildren safely to the shore There’s a lot of wisdom in that parable will likewise receive no postcards from their loving one day over a nice cup of tea at the kitchen table they’ll ask your advice on this problem: “Mom I’m telling you they never call or write I send presents – nothing comes back and offer some commonplace ideas that won’t work Then tell Gluckel’s moral about the eagle His writings have appeared in Readers Digest Thank you for signing up for the aish.com free newsletter Join us at the Akustika Fair at the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre from April 4-6 Meet The Strad team at stand F08 and pick up a free copy of the magazine The Strad Directory Jobs Takács Quartet violist Richard O’Neill talks about the ensemble’s latest release a collaboration with Marc-André Hamelin that pairs piano quintets by Florence Price and Dvořák Takács Quartet with Marc-André Hamelin; photo (c) Easel Images Discover more Featured Stories like this in The Strad Playing Hub  the Takács Quartet celebrates its 50th anniversary with global tours and another opportunity to savour their artistry on disc Their latest album — made in collaboration with a favourite partner keyboard phenomenon Marc-André Hamelin — continues the ensemble’s commitment to expanding the chamber music repertoire by championing female composers Florence Price takes the spotlight in a pairing of her Piano Quintet in A minor (1936) with Antonín Dvořák’s ever-popular A major Piano Quintet Price’s score was among a trove of manuscripts discovered in an Illinois attic in 2009 The quintet reveals her singular voice: lyrical structurally inventive and deeply rooted in African American musical traditions Early in his American residency as director of New York’s National Conservatory — founded by the visionary philanthropist Jeannette Thurber — Dvořák championed the idea that Black spirituals and Indigenous music held the key to an authentically American musical identity Price’s quintet now finds powerful new life alongside Dvořák’s chamber masterwork — two pieces linked by a shared faith in the richness of American musical voices Takács violist Richard O’Neill shared some thoughts on the album What are some of the unique challenges and rewards for a string quartet in playing Florence Price’s Piano Quintet Richard O’Neill: The Price Quintet is a new discovery for us. We enjoyed very much the process of learning the work Price is often very tuneful which is always a positive Transitional material and how things develop throughout each of the movements were perhaps the biggest challenge making shape and sense of the first movement and also getting the last movement to feel like the culmination of the piece even though it is the shortest movement in length.  The inner movements have fun things for all the string parts How do the textures and colours of Price’s writing compare to Dvořák’s Did anything about her string writing surprise you Richard O’Neill: As the violist of the quartet I appreciate very much how Price gives quite a lot of the juicy material to the viola The first violin writing is virtuosic and that is a delight If it were a direct comparison to the Dvořák Price does not take advantage of the cello as much as Dvořák – but it is hard to think of a piano quintet that gives such prominence to the cello as the Dvořák Did revisiting it in the context of Price’s work give you a fresh perspective on this familiar friend There are interesting parallels – the Price and Dvořák both sharing slow and soulful slow movements (second) jubilant dance movements (third) and rambunctious finales (fourth).  Price was a virtuoso pianist and the piano writing was thrilling to hear (from a string player’s perspective) This is your fifth recording with Marc-André Hamelin How has your dynamic evolved over the years Richard O’Neill: Marc-André is a friend and we have enjoyed very much working with him over the years.  Not only is he one of the most gifted pianists that we know and this perspective – compositional – was extremely helpful with the recording process for this project.  It has been a lot of fun to work with Marc-André on such diverse repertoire as Shostakovich Any interesting observations about the rehearsal process for this album Were there any interpretative decisions that required extra discussion I must say that Marc-André’s perspective as a composer was really meaningful during this process because he understood things that were incredibly helpful when we were learning the piece His expert and facile playing also made easy work of many of the challenging piano licks What do you hope this recording brings to audiences – especially when it comes to shining a light on Florence Price’s chamber music Richard O’Neill: During the performances that preceded this recording there were so many friends and audience members who came up to us and said how much they enjoyed the Price Quintet It is a work that deserves to be heard and it was a privilege to get to record it for Hyperion and Marc-André Especially in the context of what Dvořák believed about the future of music in America I feel that the pairing of the two works on this disc helps highlight and differentiate each piece’s unique character Dvořák & Price: Piano Quintets by Takács Quartet and Marc-André Hamelin is out now on Hyperion Records Read: Concert review: Takács Quartet, Marc-André Hamelin Read: ‘Her soulful melodies are her distinct fingerprint’: violinist Melissa White on Florence Price Read: The Takács Quartet – an exclusive interview from The Strad’s archive, April 1985 Discover more Featured Stories like this in The Strad Playing Hub In The Best of Technique you’ll discover the top playing tips of the world’s leading string players and teachers It’s packed full of exercises for students plus examples from the standard repertoire to show you how to integrate the technique into your playing The Strad’s Masterclass series brings together the finest string players with some of the greatest string works ever written Masterclass has been an invaluable aid to aspiring soloists chamber musicians and string teachers since the 1990s The Canada Council of the Arts’ Musical Instrument Bank is 40 years old in 2025 This year’s calendar celebrates some its treasures including four instruments by Antonio Stradivari and priceless works by Montagnana What has Hans Christian Aavik been up to since winning the Carl Nielsen Competition in 2022 The Estonian violinist speaks about his new album release of two contrasting concertos which comprised part of his competition victory package 18 duos for violin and viola make up Melia Watras’s latest project US cellist Zlatomir Fung has delved into the world of the operatic fantasy – a relative rarity on the instrument He speaks to Peter Quantrill about how making the recording has revealed new aspects of his musical personality Artists sometimes use multiple instruments on an album Violinist Nancy Zhou shares details about the three different bows employed on her upcoming album of solo works Composer Michael Stimpson tells a story of survival through the recording release of his work Tales from the 15th Floor ahead of a live performance in aid of the spinal injury charity How do you prepare for your Washington DC and New York City debuts Violinist Oliver Neubauer highlights the importance of recording ahead of his Young Concert Artists debuts on 22 and 29 April Site powered by Webvision Cloud two lucky winners will receive a Sea to Summit Hamelin Sleeping Bag: 15-Degree Two winners will receive either one women’s-specific or one unisex bag (a $189 value each) The Sea to Summit Hamelin Synthetic Sleeping Bag: 15-Degree is a midweight and comfort-rated down to 15 degrees Fahrenheit It is part of the brand’s new Revive Sleep Range collection a line of synthetic sleeping 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The Hamelin Women’s Synthetic Sleeping Bag (15 degrees) weighs 3 pounds Both Hamelin versions are available as a 30-degree bag and in regular and long lengths Additional features include the technical hood These sleeping bags are made from Bluesign-approved recycled fabrics and are 1% for the Planet products Sea to Summit’s original ethos of “equipping and inspiring” drives the brand’s research and development of new materials and production methods across its diverse line of outdoor products The Sea to Summit team believes epic adventures bring about pure joy Through continued product innovations and design Sea to Summit strives to make outdoor adventures more successful — from high-altitude expeditions to car camping and everything in between Be sure to check back every Friday for a new giveaway.Want the giveaway in your inbox? Sign up here An announcement from Hamelin Gold Limited ( (AU:HMG) ) is now available Hamelin Gold Limited has completed the first tranche of its share placement issuing a total of 38,775,000 shares to fund drilling and geochemical activities at its West Tanami and Yilgarn Gold Projects This placement increases Gold Fields Limited’s stake in Hamelin to approximately 17.8% with further shares to be issued to directors pending shareholder approval The capital raised will bolster Hamelin’s exploration efforts potentially enhancing its market position and stakeholder value Hamelin Gold Limited is an ASX-listed gold exploration company based in Perth with significant landholdings in the Tanami Gold Province and Yilgarn District The company focuses on exploring high-value large-scale gold deposits and applying new exploration technologies in well-mineralized terrains It boasts a strong board and management team and is supported by notable shareholders including Gold Fields Limited and Vault Minerals Limited For detailed information about HMG stock, go to TipRanks’ Stock Analysis page Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue An announcement from Hamelin Gold Limited ( (AU:HMG) ) is now available Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue It was a typically golden-hued September day in Toronto On my way to one of my regular weekend walks I tuned in to CBC Radio’s This is my music – a rather charming programme featuring musicians Silver Medallist and winner of the Krystian Zimerman prize at the 2015 Chopin Competition ‘Everyone keeps asking us whether we are related It’s now late December and he is joining me from his Montreal home having just finished his concert commitments for the year Richard-Hamelin is the epitome of friendliness and charm and with his warm and welcoming eyes behind his glasses he comes across as someone you’ve known all your life paired with his modesty and down-to-earth-ness is also a profound intelligence and sensitivity I point out to him that his biography seems clearly divided into BC and AC: before and after his silver medal at the 2015 Warsaw Chopin Competition He agrees that the Chopin Competition had an undeniable effect on shaping him into the pianist that he is today: ‘Before the competition I had never played professionally in Europe or indeed outside of Canada a kind of a black sheep in the competition I think I played something like 85 concerts in 12 countries in that I had to learn a lot of new music very quickly So you learn on the job and there’s nothing that prepares you for that You can prepare a whole year for one competition programme you have very little time to put a lot of information together Richard-Hamelin has naturally been in high demand for his Chopin a country with which he feels a strong affinity ‘I think I’ve toured nine times there; and 95 per cent of the time I’ve played Chopin I think there’s even a Japanese anime based on Chopin!’ He is referring to the manga series The Forest of Piano a boy from a red-light district who grows up to be a pianist and even performs at the Chopin Competition So it encourages me to learn more and more Chopin.’ It’s not just audience demand that places Chopin at the heart of his repertoire: ‘Chopin remains my favourite composer and the one that I feel the most at home with I think I have the majority of Chopin’s works in my repertoire it feels like knowing something else about a friend It’s interesting that the more you play a composer the better you understand how he or she thinks; it’s really like having shorthand.’ is a carefully designed programme that juxtaposes Chopin with Albéniz and Granados which placed Chopin alongside Beethoven and Enescu.’ The starting point for the new disc was a lesser-known Chopin work: the Allegro de concert ‘It has a very complicated compositional story It began as a sketch for a Third Piano Concerto By then he was not playing with orchestras any more But somehow in this piece there were musical ideas that he liked enough to convert it into a solo piano piece The orchestral nature is very much still there It follows the same structure as the first movement of the other concertos with the orchestral tutti followed by the piano entrance.’ He admits that at first the piece felt rather square ‘You know when you play Beethoven and Brahms you have to imitate the sound of an orchestra all the time You might imitate the human voice or singing but you rarely think about a string quartet or an orchestra But in this piece you have to think orchestrally for the tutti parts and then as a piano soloist for the solo parts It’s both really interesting and difficult You don’t get the kind of break you get when playing a concerto.’ Richard-Hamelin was also fascinated by ‘this mixture of very young and naive Chopin’ and the mature compositional style which I think are my favourite of anything he ever wrote And it’s kind of buried at the end of that piece.’ he discovered another piece with the same title and even opus number ‘The two don’t really have anything in common But I thought it was an interesting starting point German or even Russian music but not much Spanish.’ As he explored Granados’s music he felt much that was ‘humanesque and Chopinesque’ in that music These waltzes are very popular in guitar transcriptions but not in their original version for piano I fell in love with them and decided I could create a mirror image by including eight Chopin waltzes.’ For the latter he chose some of his favourites and devised an order that would fit well in concert alternating slower and more melancholic waltzes with the faster and lighter ones ‘These are deceptive pieces; on the surface they might seem simple But you have to do a lot more when there are fewer notes to play!’ Richard-Hamelin then explains how he tried to give each waltz an individual character ‘as you do with the Preludes’ yet creating connections that hold them together as an arc ‘So we have two very different sides of the same composer: the extrovert large concert-hall extravagant Allegro de concert emulating the orchestra on the one hand and the intimate universe of the waltzes on the other.’ The programme is completed by Albéniz’s La Vega (the title refers to an area in north-eastern Seville) You can almost picture the plains of Granada And that’s what he’s trying to convey with his music: the view from the top of the Alhambra Palace.’ The idea of ‘musical reflection’ of a landscape then led to the disc’s overall title ‘Echo because of the way I echo Granados’s works with the similar genres of large-scale and miniatures by Chopin And also because of Albeniz’s La Vega being a musical echo of a real geographical place whereas on a recording it’s unity that is essential This particular programme works well in both settings and I’ve played it in this exact order in various concerts including my Wigmore Hall debut in June 2024.’ As with many other pianists Richard-Hamelin usually runs his programmes in concerts before recording them ‘In the case of “Échos” I’m glad I got to play the programme at least 30 or 40 times before recording it.’ We turn to the question of extra-pianistic inspiration for creating his intended sound world But there’s a very interesting resource that helped me to build my interpretation These were the piano rolls that Granados recorded of his own music Of course you can’t really take too many things from the sound of the piano rolls; but one thing that stood out for me was that he changes a lot of notes I tried to appropriate some of his transitions and make them my own improvisations but in his style.’ The licence to greater freedom was confirmed when Richard-Hamelin came across historic recordings of Albéniz’s improvisations ‘Despite the clear contrast between Chopin I think the common thread is that they were all pianist-improvisers at the core; and that’s something I try to incorporate in the way I play those pieces Charles Richard-Hamelin has recorded his 12th album for Analekta I remember that in his radio programme Richard-Hamelin included a piece by the Armenian jazz pianist-improviser Tigran Hamasyan Then when classical music required more of my time But I have to say when I listen to music I listen equally to other styles and other genres Tigran – he may be just 33 or 34 years old but he’s one of the rare geniuses alive today It’s really incredible what he’s able to do especially the way he incorporates folk idioms from Armenia with so many influences from progressive rock or metal to more traditional jazz and so many things in between I really admire someone like him who doesn’t try to fit in a box.’ There are other extramusical interests that play a part in Richard-Hamelin’s career and persona He has often referred to his love for cinema; so I ask him whether he draws on that enthusiasm in his playing But when you have to convey those things to a student then sometimes I make references to the way films work when you have a sudden cut right in the middle of a war scene and then you are transposed to a quiet room That’s the kind of jarring contrast that you sometimes need in music like Schumann’s which goes from one extreme to the next with little or no transition.’ Cinema occupies him also outside of classrooms and concert halls But I also watch classic films.’ His latest obsession is Polish director Krzysztof Kies´lowski (1941‑96) ‘I’ve been watching this TV series that he had done in the late 1980s’ I share with him my own love for the Polish director’s Three Colours trilogy underground cinema and illegally smuggled and distributed films were a cultural refuge He is fascinated by my experience of living in several different countries ‘That’s what I call being an immigrant,’ I say ‘At least I don’t need to worry which football team to root for because I don’t have a sense of home at all.’ He laughs and sympathetically shakes his head ‘I can’t even imagine how hard it could be Richard-Hamelin’s introduction to the piano was thanks to his father: ‘a mostly self-taught amateur pianist’ who started his son on their upright piano at home ‘The very first thing he taught me was the Minuet from Bach’s Anna Magdalena notebook That’s not the first thing to teach a four-year-old!’ But after two weeks and with 10-15 minutes of practice a day which led his father to seek out a ‘real teacher’ This was Paul Surdulescu – a Romanian pianist who had fled Ceaus¸escu’s dictatorship in the 1980s and had settled in Joliette ‘He was maybe the most important teacher of my life He told me he had bad teachers growing up in Romania and he had to teach himself how to play And sometimes that makes for the best teachers Richard-Hamelin stayed with Surdulescu from the age of five to 18 ‘It’s fairly rare that you stay with the same teacher for 13 years,’ he admits in that they were always musically interesting with just enough challenge that I was learning something but that in the end I could play the piece well I think that’s the best way of teaching children So many times I’ve had kids who are 12 or 13 and they play Chopin’s Fourth Ballade and it’s terrible; they can kind of play the notes The fault is either with your parents or your teachers You shouldn’t be playing this; you have the fingers to do maybe an Impromptu So I’m glad that I worked my way really slowly and am grateful to my teacher for that I went on to have many other teachers and influences But I think the first teacher is the most important one.’ He went on to do his undergraduate studies in music at McGill University in Montreal who was a former student of Boris Berman.’ Laimon told him about the Yale Master’s programme led by her former teacher that it’s free and comes with a full scholarship And it was a great experience working with Berman for two years.’ Richard-Hamelin returned to Montreal to do a ‘post-master’ programme at the Conservatoire de Montréal under André Laplante It was around this time that he considered taking part in international competitions ‘I was about 23 and I thought maybe it’s time to give it a shot.’ Although the idea came from Richard-Hamelin he admits Laplante was an important influence ‘He himself had gone through the Tchaikovsky Competition experience’ – this was in 1978 when with Pascal Devoyon he shared second place behind Mikhail Pletnev So Richard-Hamelin applied for ‘a bunch of smaller competitions’ but curiously was not accepted in any of them: ‘It’s kind of this Catch-22 thing where you know if you don’t already have a prize to your name Also sometimes the smallest competitions tend to be the most corrupt: the ones where those with ties to the jury end up winning The bigger competitions protect themselves from that and they accept more people to take part in them.’ So he opted for Seoul and Montreal (2014) and was a prizewinner in both: third prize in Seoul and second in Montreal ‘The Montreal really helped me here in Canada I thought it was the last time I could do it I was going to be 26 when it was due to take place Richard-Hamelin always makes sure to mention every person who has helped his career So he quickly adds: ‘Two other people were really instrumental in my preparation She was passing through Canada before the Chopin Competition and I picked her brains about a lot of things She’s been a very important mentor of mine.’ He attributes his success partly to his stage experience in his homeland prior to the Competition ‘Having won the Montreal prize gave me some presence on the Canadian scene So I got to play under stressful circumstances These were such a great help to prepare for something like Warsaw Because most kids at the age of 18 or 19 prepare and practise like crazy But going from playing for your teacher or your friends to Warsaw and being on the stage with Martha Argerich listening to you is a big step An important experience came in the shape of chamber music ‘When I was at the Conservatoire aged about 23 and the coach for our group was Anne Robert a violin teacher and the founder of the longstanding Trio Hochelaga [the name derives from the First Nation name for Montreal].’ Robert heard Richard-Hamelin in Arensky’s D minor Trio She approached him afterwards and invited him to join her trio which was in need of a replacement pianist at the time ‘So I passed through this chair for two years and in those two years we played a lot around Quebec I was also over the moon because I could now pay my rent doing this but I was kind of gaining a living as a professional musician which was always my key thing: the dream.’ This sense of achievement played an important part in his confidence during the Warsaw Competition ‘My attitude was it’s going to be fun to play Chopin in Warsaw and to take part in this amazing event and play on that stage where Pollini and Argerich had played I’ll go back home and have a lovely local musical life.’ He adds: ‘Nothing to lose is a very good attitude in such situations I saw young candidates there whose entire dreams and persona were about winning the Competition I was completely unknown and from a country that back then was largely absent from the stages.’ Since 2015 there has been a wave of Canadian pianists winning major piano competitions I ask him if he believes a Canadian school of piano playing is emerging but those things don’t exist any more anyway I think it’s a mixture of different things We have in Canada great teachers throughout the country who is amazing but very different from the folks at the Glenn Gould School of Music [in Toronto] I think.’ He reflects a bit and continues: ‘But I guess there’s a thread you see that most of the teachers studied with Leon Fleisher or were in touch with him at some point because Fleisher used to come to Toronto a lot So I think his way of thinking is still dominant in teaching A lot of what I teach and how I think of music comes from that school which goes back to [Fleisher’s teacher] Schnabel And then you can go back probably a few generations to Beethoven or something; I don’t think that really is of any use today We talk about other Canadians currently on international stages I share my experience of chatting to Bruce Liu and point to his ever-increasing online presence and fanbase ‘He’s a very interesting pianist,’ Richard-Hamelin comments ‘We did some competitions against each other in Canada so I think he has an easier relationship with those [social media] tools It’s different for me.’ I tell him that I admire his more light-touch approach to social media platforms ‘They probably would prefer that I was more active some of my musical role models are people like Radu Lupu Can you imagine him advertising a concert on Instagram with his selfie Or someone like Perahia?’ He sighs and continues: ‘But who knows maybe even despite winning big competitions they wouldn’t make it in this world today.’ ‘Radu Lupu was for a long time my favourite living pianist But of course he passed away recently.’ He reminiscences about hearing Lupu play live: ‘Each time was a revelation I was a different person after each concert Then of course Martha Argerich and her freedom I especially remember hearing her in Chopin Ballades as a kid; that shaped a lot of the way I think Chopin should be played I’ve had so many influences that are so different I think there’s as much temperament in Lipatti and Rubinstein There’s so many things to learn from their recordings how the same music can be played so differently and remain equally beautiful.’ But after that I’d say Brahms and probably Mozart I had a Scriabin phase when I just listened to everything he had composed.’ We chat about the dangers of Scriabin fever ‘You can go mad if you listen to that too long!’ He tells me that he played Scriabin for Berman: ‘I remember I played the Tenth Sonata like opium – you shouldn’t have too much of it!’ Before we conclude our delightful conversation Richard-Hamelin’s face lights up as he tells me about another ongoing musical collaboration ‘This year [in 2024] I’ve started this really great project with my namesake the great Marc-André Hamelin.’ He is beaming ‘We’ve played two-piano concerts in Canada and Japan this year he was always the only one who could do it and do it so well and it’s been a great privilege to share the stage with him.’ As I consider how to conclude this feature the ideal solution pops up in the shape of an email from Marc-André himself: ‘It’s been a true pleasure to work with Charles; among pianists I consider him the most interesting Canadian musician of his generation He is an extraordinarily accomplished musician with a particular kind of sensitivity that is certainly not limited to his Chopin interpretations This feature originally appeared in the SPRING 2025 issue of International Piano  If you are an existing subscriber to Gramophone, Opera Now or Choir & Organ and would like to upgrade, please contact us here or call +44 (0)1722 716997 Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)-listed gold exploration company Hamelin Gold has secured firm commitments from investors to raise approximately A$2.8m ($1.68m) before costs to accelerate gold exploration in Western Australia (WA) This funding includes an investment of around $815,000 from Gold Fields increasing its stake to approximately 17.7% The placement also sees commitments from Hamelin’s directors for roughly $100,000 in shares The net proceeds from the placement will primarily finance exploration activities at the company’s 100% owned WA gold projects the funds will support reverse circulation (RC)/diamond drilling at Jazz and Fremlins and extend Ultrafine geochemical sampling across untested gold targets the investment will enable diamond drilling of the Anderson gold anomaly follow-up RC drilling at Ularring and initial aircore drill testing of priority gold targets at the Venus project in addition to providing general working capital Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis The placement to unrelated parties will utilise Hamelin’s existing placement capacity under ASX Listing Rules 7.1 and 7.1A amounting to 23.02 million and 15.75 million new shares Chieftain Securities and Cygnet Capital served as joint lead managers for the placement They are set to receive a total of two million options exercisable at $0.15 each within 24 months subject to shareholder approval at a general meeting planned for May 2025 Hamelin’s shareholder base includes gold mining companies such as Gold Fields and Vault Minerals Hamelin managing director Peter Bewick said: “We greatly appreciate the ongoing support from our existing shareholders and welcome new shareholders at an exciting time for the company “Over the next few months we will be drill testing a suite of large-scale gold targets in the West Tanami and across our Yilgarn gold projects We look forward to providing shareholders with updates on the progress of these activities and as results are received.” Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network How refreshing to encounter an album with a programme that demands careful through-listening rather than single-track streaming Waltzes by Granados and Chopin bookend its three more substantial centrepieces Granados’s Valses poéticos are utterly bewitching and it seems extraordinary that they don’t get out more (for my money they give Ravel’s Valses nobles et sentimentales a run for their money) Charles Richard-Hamelin is alive to their strengths from the joyous energy of the introduction – nippier than Larrocha’s (Warner Classics) – to the soulful quality of the first waltz which lives up to its Melodioso instruction Schumann seems to hover over the second and fourth waltzes the latter never becoming shouty even at its most exuberant moments while Richard-Hamelin turns the minor key of No 3 into a solemn poem If No 7 doesn’t have quite the fire of Larrocha the final number sets off with due brilliance before melting back into the Melodioso of the first waltz The three longest pieces form the heart of the album Chopin’s Allegro de concert (a piece over which he laboured for some years) is little more than quarter of an hour of virtuoso doodling and the booklet note writer’s claim that ‘Parts of the coda are among the most beautiful of all Chopin’s oeuvre’ seems wildly optimistic The two Spanish pieces are much more successful: Richard-Hamelin conveys Albéniz’s unique blend of Impressionism and Iberian folk music in La Vega to create a reading high on colour and energy – Marc-André Hamelin (Hyperion) is at times emotionally a little cooler In Granados’s Allegro de concierto – which won him a national competition – Richard-Hamelin brings an airy virtuosity that never threatens to become hard-edged; his demisemiquavers are scintillatingly effortless even if in sheer characterisation Larrocha at times outguns him The Chopin waltzes form an effective endpiece and here we can appreciate Richard-Hamelin’s combination of refinement and directness demonstrating how naturally he speaks this language If compared to some – Hough in particular (Hyperion) – he can be a little plain in his phrasing and colours from the grace of Op 64 No 2 to the dragging sorrow of the E minor He closes with a suitably affirmative Grande valse This review originally appeared in the SPRING 2025 issue of International Piano  59at79University of Vermont Wildcats Fall to Vermont; O’Neill Sets Career-High in Rebounds2/13/2025 8:50:00 PM | Men's Basketball (EWING, NJ) -- Roxey Ballet Company is thrilled to announce its upcoming family-friendly production of The Pied Piper of Hamelin showcasing the incredible talents of local student dancers alongside the company's renowned professional and international artists This contemporary reimagining of The Pied Piper of Hamelin is a high-energy zany romp through the notorious German folk tale Set to rock-opera style anthems and featuring upbeat choreography the production tells the story of a rat-catcher dressed in vibrant multicolored clothing who is hired by a medieval town to lure away a plague of rats with his magical pipe The production features original music and lyrics by Richard Jarboe and Harvey Shield This production highlights Roxey Ballet Company’s commitment to arts education and community involvement by providing local dance students the opportunity to perform alongside seasoned professionals In a sensory-friendly version (May 10th) of The Pied Piper of Hamelin the story unfolds in a gentle and inclusive way including those with sensory sensitivities There are smooth transitions to avoid overwhelming flashes or sudden changes This retelling maintains the charm of the classic tale while prioritizing accessibility and comfort for everyone Pre Performance workshop (FREE) on May 17th- Children ages 4-10 are encouraged to join us at the theater early at 1:00pm for a chance to dance with select characters and create movement to the iconic music that comes from the Piper’s flute Children are encouraged to wear their favorite dance clothes or comfortable attire suitable for movement * Saturday, May 10th at 4:00pm - Sensory-Friendly Presentation * Saturday, May 17th at 2:00pm The Roxey Ballet began in 1995 as the Hunterdon Youth Ballet when professional dancers brought world-class professional dance training and performance opportunities to Hunterdon County Mark and Melissa both had distinguished careers with American dance companies including The Joffrey Ballet As the regional youth ballet company began to grow the trustees of the Hunterdon County Youth Ballet changed its name to The Roxey Ballet Company Inc to reflect its clear direction and development into an outstanding touring professional dance company with a superb roster of internationally recognized artists from all over the world Today audiences enjoy more than 70 repertory works and a wide range of  full-length ballets The company has performed extensively around the country including New York and Washington DC for the 2008 Inauguration of President Obama The company is currently experiencing  a major transition in its life cycle and is committed to procuring high-quality artists and original repertory works from emerging and established choreographers The Roxey Ballet's typical season includes performances from September through June of each year the holiday classic production of The Nutcracker and Children's Classic Stories spring productions The remainder of the season is spent conducting a variety of services and concerts The Mill Ballet School is the official school of Roxey Ballet Today’s Video of the Day is a performance of Florence Price’s ‘Piano Quintet in A minor: III Juba: Allegro’ by the Takács Quartet and Marc-André Hamelin the slow movement of Price's Piano Quintet is followed by a jazzy 'juba': a dance movement whose syncopated rhythms were accompanied in the absence of any percussion instruments The recording can be found on the quartet and Hamelin’s fifth Hyperion album together which couples Antonín Dvořák and Florence Price If you are a library, university or other organisation that would be interested in an institutional subscription to Gramophone please click here for further information We have detected that you are using an adblocking plugin in your browser The revenue we earn by the advertisements is used to manage this website Please whitelist our website in your adblocking plugin Versatile violinist Andrew Wan is concertmaster of the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal and member of the New Orford String Quartet His discography includes Grammy-nominated and JUNO Award-winning releases with the Seattle Chamber Music Society and Saint-Saëns violin concertos with the OSM and Kent Nagano Silver medalist at the 2015 International Chopin Piano Competition Charles Richard-Hamelin has appeared at prestigious festivals including La Roque d’Anthéron (France) His first solo recording of Chopin late works received critical acclaim from Diapason & BBC Music Magazine Andrew + Charles are joined by Dior Quartet silver prize winners of the 2021 Chesapeake Chamber Music Competition and Bronze Medalists of the 2019 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition They will present an unique chamber music experience: Ravel String Quartet in F Major 108 (Andrew+Charles) and Mendelssohn Concerto for Violin By 2024-07-24T08:00:00+01:00 Edward Bhesania watches the performance of Florence Price and Dvořák at London’s Wigmore Hall on 20 May 2024  The renowned Takács Quartet may be celebrating its 50th anniversary next year but in this concert it came up playing fresh as a daisy Florence Price’s A minor Piano Quintet was among the composer’s manuscripts discovered in 2009 in an abandoned Illinois house Now joined by Canadian pianist Marc-André Hamelin the quartet impressively melded the Romantic and bluesy/Spiritual idioms with Hamelin sweeping into the first to present the yearning Dvořákian earworm that dominates the movement The Andante con moto’s soulful chorale oozed blissful warmth After the jaunty Juba of the third movement (a popular dance Price used in a number of works) as well as equal measures of nimbleness and energy Watch: The Takács Quartet performs Schubert’s Death and the Maiden Read: Session Report: the Takács Quartet on re-recording Schubert Watch: Masterclass: The Takács Quartet performs Brahms’s String Quartet no.3 founding Takács member András Fejér’s brooding opening cello solo was countered with sweetness by first violin Edward Dusinberre The slow section of the second-movement Dumka brought a rich string sound shot through with Hamelin’s crystalline touch The Scherzo sparkled in its outer sections and floated in its Trio while the finale drove ineluctably towards its fugue these performances were clearly shaped by deep experience and commitment a collaboration with Marc-André Hamelin that pairs piano quintets by Florence Price and Dvořák regarded as one of the world’s greatest string quartets celebrates its 50th anniversary this season In this exclusive interview from The Strad’s April 1985 issue the ensemble’s original line-up spoke about building on their early success  A distinguished quartet brings commitment to works early and late An album to seduce and thrill in equal measure A crack ensemble proves its mettle in highly varied fare An adventurous violist offers a dance through the centuries according to the Brothers Grimm’s German Legends a quaint-looking man appeared in the lands of Fulda Abbey He was wearing such a striking particoloured jacket that the people called him Bundting (the many-coloured one) and in the mill town of Hamelin the burghers eagerly offered to pay him a modest sum of money to free them of a plague of grain-chomping rodents He was as good as his word; the townsfolk were not luring them away into the bowels of a nearby mountain with his magical piping So goes the standard version of the Pied Piper of Hamelin I do my best to show up…even in the wilds of Worcester he delivered an extraordinary concert I will not soon In recognition of the composer’s 150th birthday Charles Ives’s massive (and massively virtuosic) Second Piano Sonata Concord 1840-1860 paints impressionistic pictures of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau in its outer movements provides a playful and gentle sketch of the Louisa May Alcott home and reflects a lighter side of Nathaniel Hawthorne through a ragtime scherzo The “Thoreau” movement includes a flute part representing the writer’s meditations at Walden Pond “The Alcotts” was created from a 1904 sketch of an Alcotts Overture “Hawthorne” came from a 1909 idea based on the writer’s “The Celestial Railroad,” and “Emerson” developed from Ives’s 1907 idea of an Emerson Overture/Piano Concerto He had been piecing these ideas together for Men of Literature The sonata’s four movements demonstrate Ives’s experimental tendencies: he wrote much of it without barlines there is a cluster chord created by depressing the piano’s keys with a piece of wood as well as clusters marked “Better played by using the palm of the hand or the clenched fist.” The piece also amply demonstrates Ives’s fondness for musical quotation (especially Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony’s opening but would still not meet him for another 6 years (despite living only one hour apart!) After the pianist gave his famous Town Hall performance in New York City in 1939 he began collaborating with Ives on a second edition Kirkpatrick recorded it for Columbia records in 1945 (it would not be released until 1948) Kirkpatrick played the Concord Sonata hundreds of times in concert and found that it remained fresh no matter how long he studied it Later in life he didn’t say that he was “playing” the “Concord,” he said that he was “playing at it.” ….why the notation of the Concord Sonata was so vague the pace… He said that he intended to give only a general indication to the pianist recreate the work for himself… This improvisational attitude toward music… affects all of Ives’s more mature works… In his compositions the notation of a work is only the basis for further improvisation and the notation itself… is a kind of snapshot of the way he played it at a certain period in his life. I find that I do not play or feel like playing this music even now in the same way each time… Some of the passages now played have not been written out and I do not know as I ever shall write them out as it may take away the daily pleasure of playing this music and seeing it grow and feeling that it is not finished and the hope that it never will be – I may always have the pleasure of not finishing it.” (Cowell Henry and Sidney (1955) “Charles Ives and his Music”) Hamelin’s extraordinary performance often sounded maniacally improvisatory but here (and in the rest of the program) his intensely focused rendition astonished with its mercurial colors His hymn-like opening of the third movement “The Alcotts,” was this listener’s favorite part although the audience seemed to love every one of its 45 minutes Having heard the Concord on several good recordings I must insist that if a person gets to hear this live Who would have thought this often-craggy sonata could steal one’s heart Hamelin treated us to his Mazurka; it had premiered a few weeks ago at the Library of Congress Dedicated to a close friend who had passed away recently it immediately rose to one of my favorites among the pianist/composer’s 30-plus works Among the nine short pieces that constitute Robert Schumann’s Waldszenen Its “Eintritt” (Entry) was gently enticing the two lively hunting songs charmingly Schumanesque “Einsame Blumen” (Lonely Flowers) movingly interpreted with a sensitive while “Abschied” (Farewell) sounded tender and full of grace—a blanket of peace Ravel’s astonishingly brilliant Gaspard de la nuit closed the show with breathtaking brilliance Hamelin has said he considers this to be one of the two greatest pieces composed in the 20th century; he certainly made a strong case for that Many parts lay in the deep-bass register of the keyboard recalling Ravel’s inimitable Concerto for the Left Hand made clear his affinity and enthusiasm for this composer Comments Off on Hamelin: Perfect Mechanics and Soul Sign in Join now, it's FREE! 3 months agoDuration 1:59Canadian pianist Marc-André Hamelin performs ‘radiantly optimistic’ Beethoven at the NAC3 months agoNewsDuration 1:59The award-winning pianist will be in Ottawa two nights, performing Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto with the NAC orchestra. CBC’s Sandra Abma attended a rehearsal. Trump film tariff threat is ‘very troubling,’ ACTRA national president saysCBC News |44 minutes agoTrending NowVideo2:17 Video evidence, NHLer testimony raise questions in world junior sexual assault trialThe National |May 2Video11:28 Trump repeats 51st state taunt as Carney prepares for White House visitThe National |10 hours agoVideo1:19 It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem Hamelin Gold (ASX:HMG) plans to advance drilling and geochemical activities at the West Tanami and Yilgarn gold projects in Western Australia upon completing the first tranche of a capital raising Chieftain Securities and Cygnet Capital acted as joint lead managers to the placement.  As part of the placement to raise $2.8 million tranche one comprised the issue of 23.02 million shares at $0.07 per share The issue price represents a 13.2% discount to the 10-day volume weighted average price.  Gold Fields (NYSE:GFI) issued 11.63 million shares after injecting $815,000 to take its total stake in Hamelin Gold to 17.8%.  Hamelin directors have committed to subscribe for $100,000 at the same issue price as tranche one.  Tranche two is subject to shareholder approval which is planned to be sought at a general meeting to be held in May 2025.  As Mining.com.au previously reported the company plans to drill test a suite of large-scale gold targets.  reverse circulation and diamond drilling will be conducted at the Jazz and Fremlins prospects while a combination of aircore and RC drilling will be conducted at the Camel The West Tanami Project covers 2,277km2 and spans 100km of strike along the Trans-Tanami structural corridor that hosts Newmont’s (ASX:NEM) plus-14-million-ounce Callie Gold Deposit across the border in the Northern Territory Hamelin says it is one of Australia’s most unexplored gold provinces.  Meanwhile, in the Yilgarn the company will complete diamond drilling of the Anderson gold anomaly, follow-up RC drilling at Ularring as well as advance the Venus Project to grant and complete initial aircore drill test of priority gold targets Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au    Green Critical Minerals draws European graphite interest Green Critical Minerals (ASX:GCM) has been asked to provide samples of graphite.. Lion’s legacy investments ‘demonstrating compelling value’ Mid West ‘ideal’ export hub for clean... Hazer forms Kellogg Brown and Root alliance XPON Technologies to acquire Alpha Digital Sarytogan Graphite undertaking reserve definition works African Mining Week spotlights women in leadership Stay Informed on up-to-the-minute mining news Get the best articles straight to your inbox XPON Technologies to acquire Alpha Digital06 May Green Critical Minerals draws European graphite interest06 May Sarytogan Graphite undertaking reserve definition works06 May African Mining Week spotlights women in leadership06 May Sonoor on September 1 at 16:00 CET features Marc-André Hamelin Marc-André Hamelin (1961) is famous as a virtuoso pianist who does not limit himself to the standard repertoire and enjoys seeking out but the word promising would do him justice Hamelin often stands on the shoulders of the old masters but he also freely uses such works as the starting point for new compositions During this episode of Sonoor you will hear music by Marc-André Hamelin both as composer and pianist For the playlist click here Minister of Health Mark Holland speaks about new national pharmacare legislation in Ottawa Canada prides itself on providing high-quality Canadians could soon see their access to essential drugs threatened by supply chain vulnerabilities Against this backdrop, the federal government assembled a committee of experts to guide the implementation of Bill C-64, the Pharmacare Act but did not include any representation from the pharmaceutical industry The industry was not even asked to propose a representative free of conflicts of interest A pharmacare model built without the guidance of industry experts risks overlooking crucial factors such as the availability of advanced medications and the infrastructure required to maintain a stable drug supply Take insulin, for example. Both Eli Lilly and Sanofi produce insulin in the U.S. Addressing medication supply issues requires industry expertise as the process is far more complex than simply considering cost Canada currently lacks the infrastructure to produce most treatments domestically a gap that becomes especially troubling given the challenges in Canada-U.S A protectionist stance or disruptions caused by significant changes to regulatory bodies in the U.S.—such as those proposed by health secretary nominee Kennedy Jr.—could affect our access to U.S.-sourced pharmaceuticals Another example occurred in 2022 when pharmacy shelves were devoid of infant and children’s fever and pain medications due to supply challenges amid a surge of illness caused delays in restoring supply in Canada collaboration with industry has been essential to restoring access to essential medicines it is essential to learn from the vulnerabilities exposed by these past experiences The government is missing a key opportunity to work with industry experts to help mitigate risks and build a robust pharmacare program that ensures patients continue to have access to new and innovative treatments The solution to these challenges lies in collaboration and it starts by involving Canada’s pharmaceutical industry all along Industry insights into regulatory requirements and complex global pharmaceutical supply chains will be invaluable in developing an effective and resilient pharmacare program the federal government can strengthen Canada’s domestic pharmaceutical infrastructure and ensure a stable supply of life-saving medications and vaccines The government must recognize this and make room at the table for the pharmaceutical industry to help build a pharmacare system that serves Canadians now and in the future Bettina Hamelin is the president of Innovative Medicines Canada PLATINUM Corporate & Industry Council Members: Hamelin Gold (ASX:HMG) has secured a co-funding grant up to $330,907 from the Western Australian Government’s Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS) for the West Tanami Project in Western Australia $180,000 will be put towards a combination of reverse circulation and diamond drilling.  will target mineralisation at depth and along strike of a more than 500m-long regolith gold anomaly defined by aircore drilling.  The remaining $150,907 will be put towards geophysics work to complete an airborne electromagnetic survey over the project.  which has a market capitalisation of $17.7 million says the program will target conductors within the Hawkeye and Schultz intrusions which are prospective for nickel and platinum group element mineralisation.  The program is scheduled to begin between July and August 2025.  Managing Director Peter Bewick says the EIS initiative is designed to promote and expedite exploration in greenfield regions.  “Applications for EIS co-funding are assessed through a highly competitive independently moderated process and Hamelin is extremely pleased to have been successful for both a drilling and geophysics grant at our West Tanami Project,” Bewick says.  “The Tanami region of Western Australia is an underexplored mineral province that is highly prospective for large-scale gold and base metal deposits The EIS co-funding will allow Hamelin to expand and accelerate our 2025 exploration programs.” The West Tanami is a belt-scale gold project Hamelin Gold is a junior mineral explorer focused on discoveries in Western Australia.  Sign In Register Visit the Smith Funeral Home website to send your condolences and support Victoria “Vikki” “Snooks” Lee Hamelin passed away at the age of 69 Loving sister of Frank (Margie) Hamelin and Noreen (Tim) Tsang Snooks was also a great-aunty to many and is survived by several cousins and friends Predeceased by her parents Alcide and Mildred Hamelin and by her siblings; Lonnie George Snooks was most proud of her Native Heritage A celebration of Vikki’s life will be announced in the Spring Sympathy may be expressed through donations to a charity of your choice (cheques only at the funeral home please).  but we also know she has returned to the spirit world where she will forever be a part of the great mystery and may her spirit find peace and comfort in the land of the ancestors and continue to live with love and gratitude for the time we shared We ask for your strength to help us through this difficult time and to find solace in the knowledge that we will see her again in the great beyond." A division of Sarnia Media Group Inc.Locally Owned and Operated Hamelin Gold (ASX:HMG) is set to ramp up drilling and geochemical exploration activities at its West Tanami and Yilgarn gold projects in Western Australia following the completion of the first tranche of a $2.8 million capital raising Chieftain Securities and Cygnet Capital managed the placement with the initial tranche involving the issue of 23.02 million shares at $0.07 each reflecting a 13.2% discount to the 10-day volume-weighted average price Gold Fields (NYSE:GFI) increased its stake in Hamelin Gold to 17.8% with an $815,000 investment pending shareholder approval at a May 2025 general meeting includes a $100,000 subscription commitment from Hamelin directors at the same issue price Hamelin intends to use the funds to drill test large-scale gold targets These include reverse circulation and diamond drilling at the Jazz and Fremlins prospects in West Tanami as well as aircore and RC drilling at the Camel diamond drilling will target the Anderson gold anomaly with follow-up RC drilling planned at Ularring The West Tanami Project, spanning 2,277km2 along the Trans-Tanami structural corridor, is considered one of Australia’s most underexplored gold provinces. The company’s exploration seeks to replicate discoveries similar to Newmont’s (ASX:NEM) Callie Gold Deposit located across the border in the Northern Territory Copyright Finance TV Pty Ltd All Rights Reserved Would you like to receive our daily news to your inbox and the Metropolitan Opera's new music director Yannick Nezet-Seguin TORONTO — Five years of meticulous work on the music for the film "Maestro" led Montreal conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin to his fifth Grammy win Sunday one of several Canadians to pick up awards at this year's event And it's an honour with a unique twist: he shares it with Hollywood actor Bradley Cooper The two unlikely creative partners spent an exhaustive period shaping the music of Cooper's Leonard Bernstein biopic a passion project of the star released by Netflix in 2023 a collaboration with the London Symphony Orchestra titled “Maestro: Music By Leonard Bernstein,” won best compilation soundtrack for visual media from Day 1," Nézet-Séguin said in a call from his Montreal home Neither of them expected to be showered with Grammy glory especially since their category was stacked with other notable projects tied to films including "Saltburn" and "The Color Purple." we were very surprised," Nézet-Séguin laughed It brought Nézet-Séguin his fifth career Grammy an accomplishment he was unable to accept in person due to some unforeseen circumstances But he shared in the astonishment with Cooper over text message after they were awarded during a pre-broadcast ceremony in Los Angeles Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter" roped in some Grammys hardware for Canadian musician Dave Hamelin in the marquee album of the year category engineer and mixer on the superstar's country-pop album made Hamelin a first-time winner as part of the creative team that brought it to life Hamelin is best known as a member of the Montreal band He was the only Canadian to lock in a Grammy for "Cowboy Carter," though several others were nominated for their work behind the scenes Another big surprise on Grammy night came not from one of the winners but one of the performers on the main broadcast The Weeknd seemed to end his rift with Grammys organizers by performing on the show unannounced The Toronto-raised artist sang "Cry For Me" from his new album which came out Friday as well as "Timeless," a song released last year with rapper Playboi Carti the Weeknd pledged a boycott of the Grammys after he was shut out from the nominations calling them "corrupt" and saying he would “no longer allow” his label to submit his work for consideration appeared to address some of those concerns as he introduced the performer touting how the Academy has modernized and diversified in recent years The Weeknd's appearance comes just as he's about to start selling tickets for his North American tour Toronto songwriter Scott Zhang marked his first Grammy win as part of the team behind SZA's "Saturn," which picked up best R&B song Zhang accepted his Grammy alongside several of his SZA collaborators by thanking his parents and noting that he just moved to Los Angeles a day ago But his music career has been in motion for more than a decade Aside from writing songs for other artists he has recorded indie pop under the moniker Monsune He's credited as a writer on "Race My Mind," which appeared on the Toronto rapper's 2021 album "Certified Lover Boy." Drake was not nominated this year — he has said in the past he abstains from submitting — but his presence loomed at this year's event due to the success of his rival Kendrick Lamar's song "Not Like Us." earned Lamar a sweep across the five categories it was nominated in Lamar won two top awards — song and record of the year — as well as best rap song When Sean Ono Lennon accepted a Grammy win for a re-release of his late father John Lennon's album "Mind Games," he emphasized a message of peace and love before changing the subject "I wanted to give some advice to the young people out there," he said "Never get into a rap battle with Kendrick Lamar." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb Beyonce accepts the award for best country album for "COWBOY CARTER" during the 67th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday “L’Équipe de France” (the French team) and “Les Mascottes” (the mascots) represented by the two Phryges The collection of products includes EU Ecolabel awarded ones including their stationery paper used in their Olympic branded notebooks Founded in 1864 in the Normandy city of Caen this family-run business is now Europe's leading manufacturer of EU Ecolabel certified notebooks and its products are sold in over 140 countries worldwide ‘We are world-famous for our Oxford brand 24x32 spiral bound school notebooks with a special paper that makes writing and learning easier’ ‘Both the paper and the notebooks are certified by the EU Ecolabel.’ Hamelin is a success story that has adhered to the requirements and criteria of the EU Ecolabel from the outset ‘The company has long been convinced that the EU Ecolabel is a real advantage and a trustworthy innovation We were the first to obtain this certification for our product category [notebooks] and we were the only ones for a very long time’ Prior to the official launch of the first EU Ecolabel criteria for printed paper and stationery the company joined forces with other European manufacturers customers and organisations in 1992 to open a dialogue with the European Commission on the labelling of stationery products the paper industry had to be convinced of the benefits of such certification this has meant innovations in the product design process itself including recyclability at the end-of-life.  70% of Hamelin’s notebooks are certified with the EU Ecolabel and their ambition is to reach 100% by 2030 ‘We have long been convinced that the label is the best in terms of criteria and also because it certifies the entire life cycle of the product’ ‘We have developed a procedure of eco-design in which we assess the materials needed to manufacture a new product and how that product will be used to determine whether it can obtain the label or not a product that contains a lot of plastic will be excluded.’ Hamelin’s teams have their products and innovations tested in laboratories The company also does not hesitate to invest so that its suppliers are able to produce in line with the criteria of the EU Ecolabel the teams work to explain the label’s benefits to consumers and manufacturers alike.  keep score of your favourite Paris Olympics’ athletes with Hamelin notebooks and feel confident that you’re getting a sustainable option as well EU Environment newsletters deliver the latest updates about the European Commission’s environmental priorities straight to your inbox A Moderow Moment: The real Pied Piper of HamelinJournal StandardIf you’re like me you’re familiar with the story of “The Pied Piper of Hamelin.” It’s a story I remember from my youth and have recently rediscovered as my 2-year-old has taken a fancy for the tale the Robert Browning poem or as is my recent experience “Pied Piper Mickey.” Whichever version you’re familiar with they all follow more or less the same pattern often described as flamboyantly dressed and carrying a flute of some sort The man offers to get rid of the rats for a fee The man entrances the rats with his music and leads them away whether that’s to a watery grave or in the version I remember The Piper returns to Hamelin and the town refuses to pay him The Piper then starts playing again except this time it is the children of the town that are entranced The children are led away to the same location of the rats It’s not the most popular tale in the genre but it is one that has stuck around for centuries uses the legend as part of its tourist economy involving guided tours themed meals at restaurants and multiple reenactment venues People love coming to the town and walking through a fairy tale “The Pied Piper of Hamelin” isn’t a fairy tale According to an inscribed façade from 1602 around a Hamelin house from much earlier 1284 — on the 26th of June — the day of St Paul — 130 children — born in Hamelin — were led out of the town by a piper wearing multicolored clothes After passing Calvary near the Koppenberg they disappeared forever.” the town's own records from 1384 note that “It is 100 years since our children left.” There were also records of such an event in the stained glass of the church (destroyed in the 17th century) and a 15th century manuscript referring to 130 children vanishing from town on June 26 I don’t know if Hamelin ever had a rat problem But the town has maintained for over 600 years that something akin to the legend actually happened the obvious question: where did the children go Some historians have suggested the children were recruited into a children’s crusade to retake the Holy Land It has been suggested that the children died in the Black Plague though if you’re up on global pandemics you know there’s about a 60-year gap between the two events Maybe the children danced themselves to death in the mass hysteria phenomenon known as St the Piper might have simply led the children to the midsummer festival the children were recruited to help colonize newly liberated German land Hamelin family names start showing up in new German territories outside of Berlin with notable frequency people were poor and this colorful musician was offering opportunity to the children and one less mouth to feed to the families There is some documentation of this tactic being used in Germany at the time We don’t genuinely know what specifically happened in Hamelin on June 26 but we can be pretty sure that something wild happened.