Folk Orchestra of Santa Barbara Gets Medieval! Concerts Set For Jan 30-Feb 1

Santa Barbara: Since 2017, the Folk Orchestra of Santa Barbara—the only one of its kind in the United States—has been taking listeners on musical voyages around the world. For these shows, it’s going time traveling. The “beloved local music treasure” announces its Medieval Concerts January 30 and 31 and February 1. Take a trip to the Middle Ages to hear music performed on rare and unusual instruments—along with more familiar strings, guitars, and more. The pieces to be performed range from lively dance tunes popular in the 1500s to soaring orchestral arrangements of international folk favorites.

The shows are Friday, January 30 at 7 pm (Presidio Chapel, Santa Barbara); Saturday, January 30 at 7 pm (Trinity Episcopal, Santa Barbara); and St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley at 4 pm (Los Olivos). Tickets are available now at www.folkorchestrasb.com.

“The Dark Ages never sounded as light as this,” said founder and musical director Adam Phillips of the upcoming shows. “The music has powerful rhythms and ancient Melodies, all woven into the magnificent fabric of orchestral strings.”

Along with those strings (and guitars and drums and more), all played by the local mostly volunteer musicians, concertgoers will enjoy the rare treat of hearing such instruments as the crumhorn from England (King Henry VIII owned more than two dozen!); the gemshorn from Germany (and elsewhere in Europe); the Middle Eastern Oud (said to be the ancestor of all string instruments) and the Swedish nyckelharpa. In Folk Orchestra tradition, there will also be an assortment of gaitas (bagpipes) from Spain and elsewhere.

Order your tickets now online at  folkorchestrasb.com.  And learn more about the Folk Orchestra through our introductory short here.

About the Folk Orchestra of Santa Barbara

The Folk Orchestra of Santa Barbara, which serves as the Musicians-In-Residence for El Presidio de Santa Barbara, was founded in 2017 by Adam Phillips with a unique vision: to share the power, beauty and excitement of folk music from around the world.  FOSB is currently 28 musicians strong, blending orchestral instruments (violin, cello, flute, etc.) with both common and specialized folk instruments (guitar, mandolin, accordion, bagpipe, oud, xiao, hurdy gurdy, and more).  The Folk Orchestra performs four concert sets annually, each featuring a different world region or era and has gained a loyal following in the Santa Barbara community.  Lean more about our origin, mission and sound on our introductory short here.

For more information, photos and to schedule an interview with founder Adam Phillips, contact Sherylle Mills Englander: (805) 259-9170 or email: englander@ucsb.edu, and visit folkorchestrasb.com.