The Monadnock Folklore Society is proud to present the 2021 Mummer’s Play and a specially recorded, seasonally themed ‘First Sunday Pub Sing’.

Our huge thanks to MFS board member Peter Martel for audio production and most especially to Dave Kirkpatrick of Iron Horse Audio and Video in Keene for their excellent work and so many hours of donated time to produce the Mummer’s Play and Song Circle this year.
https://ironhorseaudio.com/

The Monadnock Folklore Society produces this community event every year, but for 2021, we had to forego the admission and of course, the dessert potluck will be DIY this year.

Back in 2019, we had more interest in this event than the Nelson Town Hall could accommodate and many people were turned away at the door. Here is the 2019 Holiday Concert featuring a selection of traditional and original seasonal music performed by The Solstice Sisters (Alouette Iselin, Melanie Everard, Kim Wallach, & Heather Bower) and friends including a performance by our Johnny Trombly Scholarship recipient. After the concert, the chairs and benches are usually cleared to make way for a traditional New England Contradance. Unfortunately, or not, the dance is often interrupted by various groups of unsavory characters presenting their idea of seasonal entertainment. These diversions, sometimes involving costumed individuals making complete fools of themselves or performing ancient ritual dances to help us through this dark time of the year, are generally tolerated as once they are applauded and fed we can return to dancing the night away. Two years ago we had to endure this 2019 Mummer’s Play.

Due to our current circumstances, we were not able to host this event in the traditional manner but we have managed to collect some past video performances including Kim’s solo version of the Nelson Wassail and our 2020 Mummer’s Play.

You may also be interested in these videos from previous Solstice concerts:

https://youtu.be/ytHSRV510Ns – harp and hammer dulcimer

https://youtu.be/zvGHVqDU7HY – Green Grows the Holly

https://youtu.be/wdU3NBlvfQY – Let This Be My Prayer

https://youtu.be/sAGjuTFUDMY – Traveler’s Prayer

https://youtu.be/tKWgGlcVlyo Wassail the Silver Apple

https://youtu.be/4A3guUyKzUk Comfort of Singing Voices

https://youtu.be/0pazXEjvM34 Keep Me Warm Medley

https://youtu.be/5OZEnsU_ICg Children Go Where I Send Thee

https://youtu.be/BlWzz27AQso Walking in the Air