Popular Parlor Music Series returns

The idea might seem oh so quaint and more than a little twee now, but not so long ago, before the days of iPods, HDTV and Guitar Hero, folks used to get together for social occasions and rely solely on each other for entertainment.

Yes, there was once a time when people didn’t tune in to “The Hills,” or “Gossip Girl,” or whatever facsimile of real life—or reality tv—it is that kids (and some guilty pleasure-seeking adults) are watching today. People actually met in their living rooms and parlors to tell stories, play musical instruments and amuse one another without the help of electronic devices or celebrities renowned for no other reason than their celebrity.

For a few days this fall, the Bridgehampton Historical Society (BHS) will bring back that kind of old-fashioned, multi-generational fun with the continuation of the society’s popular “Parlor Music Series,” offered on four Saturdays from October 4 through November 1. Featured performers for the fall series will play instruments, sing, and provide a bit of a history lesson when they come to Bridgehampton to perform.

Up first in the series is Larry Moser who will play the hammered dulcimer on October 4 and talk about the history of the instrument. Next will be John Corr, who will play guitar and sing maritime songs and chanties on October 18. Banjo Bob Barta, who played in the last parlor series at the Historical Society, will return for a repeat performance on October 25; Liz Joyce and Steven Widerman will conclude the fall slate with a rare performance of the award-winning puppet operetta, “Song of Sixpence,” on November 1.

Aimed at a multi-generational audience, the Parlor Music concerts will be intimate gatherings of audience members and performers at the Bridgehampton Historical Society for the type of family entertainment that was commonplace in the days before radio and television, according to BHS Executive Director John Eilertsen.

“Intimate and informal are key words,” Mr. Eilertsen said of the live acts. “These performances will be acoustic American and immigrant music with volume and tempo conducive to listening in one’s living room like they did back in the day.”

The once popular series had lain dormant for the previous four years, according to Mr. Eilertsen, but resumed last spring with sold-out shows thanks to the hard work and planning of program director Stacy Dermont, who joined the BHS team a year ago. During an interview at the Historical Society’s headquarters at the Corwith House in Bridgehampton last week, Mr. Eilertsen gave Ms. Dermont the credit for successfully reviving the series.

“She took up the mantle of reviving the series when she started last November,” he said. “Stacy just ran with it: it was one of her first directives and she’s done a great job of building upon the success of the program and providing variety.”

Ms. Dermont, who is married to composer and organist Daniel Koontz, said that though she is not necessarily musical, she has chosen performers for the series that have touched her in some way and that she hopes will do the same for the audience. “I look for musicians who really entertain me on a number of levels and that’s what this series is all about,” she said. “These musicians are genuinely fascinating and very entertaining.”

Her choices worked well for last spring’s sold-out series. Stressing the importance of reservations for the upcoming shows—seating is limited to 45 audience members—Ms. Dermont said she said she expects similar turnouts for this fall’s concerts. “I expect waiting lists and standing room only,” she said.

Sag Harbor resident Liz Joyce, who founded the children’s puppet theater, Goat on a Boat, said she is excited to be performing at the parlor series for the BHS. “I don’t perform ‘The Song of Sixpence’ often, but I think this will be an excellent venue for it,” she said of her upcoming show in November. “It’s best for smaller, more intimate audiences, so this should be a great fit.”

Noting how times have changed since the days of parlor music, Mr. Eilertsen said that much of the appeal of the series is because such small-scale live performances are a rarity. “We don’t see a lot of live intimate entertainment anymore,” he said. “It’s a completely new experience for the youngsters who are used to turning on the radio and getting music.”

The Bridgehampton Historical Society’s Parlor Music series, sponsored by the Bridgehampton Association, will include performances at 2 p.m. on Saturdays, October 4, 18, 25 and November 1 at 2368 Montauk Highway in Bridgehampton. Tickets are $5 and include entertainment, homemade cookies and apple cider. Reservations are required; call 537-1088.