...a twenty-voice ensemble with wide-ranging and adventurous repertoire, based in Columbus, Ohio.
Previous Seasons
2009-2010 Season
CELTIC VOYAGES CONCERT AND CD RELEASE
Join us at St Leo Church in historic Merion Village, Columbus, for one last chance to hear our popular Celtic music program, as we celebrate the release of our new Celtic Voyages CD, recorded at St Leo in May and June 2009. The program is a feast of traditional songs from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and Appalachia.
Friday September 25, 2009, 8:00 pm
St Leo Church, 224 Hanford St, Columbus map
http://www.savesaintleo.org/
Admission free, donations to the St Leo Organ Restoration Fund
CDs will be available, suggested donation $15 per CD
WITH SWEET REJOICING
This year’s Christmas program includes traditional songs, renaissance repertoire, and contemporary music from the Baltic, the British Isles, central Europe, Nigeria, and the USA. Featuring Latvian and Celtic carols, renaissance masterpieces by Monteverdi, Dufay, and Praetorius, music by Veljo Tormis and Morton Lauridsen, plus well known carols for all to join in singing.
Sunday December 6, 2009, 4 pm
St James’ Episcopal Church, 155 N 6th St, Zanesville map
Admission free, donations accepted
Friday December 11, 2009, 8 pm
St James’ Episcopal Church, 3400 Calumet St, Clintonville map
Admission free, donations accepted
Saturday December 12, 2009, 7:30 pm
St John’s Episcopal Church, 700 High St, Worthington map
Admission free, donations accepted
Sunday December 13, 2009, 6 pm
St Francis of Assisi Church, 386 Buttles Ave, Columbus map
Also featuring the choir of St Francis.
Admission free, donations accepted.
In Magpie tradition, one of our Christmas collections will be donated in its entirety to a local charity.
Our new compact disk - Celtic Voyages - (ideal Christmas present!) will be available at all our Christmas performances, and can also be ordered here.
IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD
A Lenten hour of Early American and Folk Hymns
Tuesday March 9, 2010, 7:00 pm
Trinity Episcopal Church, 75 E Main Street, Newark map
Psalm settings, Shaker tunes, music in the shape note tradition, and folk hymns
GYPSIES & SAILORS
Songs of travel, exploration, pilgrimage, exile, escape, and the journey of life itself - featuring sea shanties, medieval pilgrim dances, spirituals, songs from China, the Faeroe Islands, and South Africa, excerpts from Brahms' Zigeunerlieder (Gypsy Songs), and finally a voyage along the Milky Way, in the form of Dream Songs by Sheena Phillips.
Saturday April 10, 2010, 1 pm (PREVIEW of limited selections)
Columbus Main Library, 96 S Grant Ave, Columbus map
Admission free
Friday May 14, 2010, 8 pm
King Avenue United Methodist Church, 299 King Avenue, Columbus map
Admission free, suggested donation $10
Saturday May 15, 2010, 8 pm
Trinity Episcopal Church, 125 E Broad Street, Columbus map
Admission free, suggested donation $10
Sunday May 16, 2010, 4 pm
Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1555 S. James Rd., Columbus map
Admission free, suggested donation $10
Saturday September 25, 2010, 8 pm
St. Leo Church, 221 Hanford St., Columbus map
Admission free, suggested donation $10
Our Gypsies & Sailors program is generously supported by the Greater Columbus Arts Council
EXTRA! EXTRA!
ALL ABOARD FOR HAITI!
A benefit concert for Haiti, featuring the Magpie Consort, the Kata Bomba Drummers, the Capriccio! vocal ensemble, a Complaints Choir (read on!), and The Ohio State University African American Voices Gospel Choir, in a great program of sea shanties, Haitian drumming, spirituals, gospel songs, and and a new piece specially composed for Columbus's first 'complaints choir' - don't miss!
Saturday June 5, 2010, 7:00 pm , 7:00 pm
First Congregational Church, 444 E Broad Street, Columbus map
Admission free. Donations to benefit Habit for Humanity Haiti Relief
This concert raised over $1100 for Habitat for Humanity Haiti. Thank you to all participants and donors.
2008-2009 Season
NOEL NOEL!
Traditional winter songs, Advent classics including 'Lo how a rose', French Noëls, rollicking medieval English carols, a stunning contemporary piece by English composer Will Todd, and Charpentier's charming motet 'In Nativitate Domini Nostri Jesu Christi Canticum' for female voices and continuo.
The Magpies at St Leo's Roman Catholic Church, Merion Village (Columbus) - Christmas 2008 - photo courtesy John Rees
Friday December 5, 2008, 8:00 pm
St Leo Church, Merion Village, Columbus
Saturday December 6, 7:30 pm
St John's Episcopal Church, Worthington (with food and mulled wine)
Friday December 12, 8:00 pm
St James' Episcopal Church, Clintonville
Sunday December 14, 6:00 pm
St Francis of Assisi Church, Columbus
Welcoming Jennifer Bell (organist) and the choir of St Francis of Assisi (Dec 14)
Our collection at St Francis raised a magnificent $1936 for Mid-Ohio Food Bank
LENTEN PROGRAM
Sounds of Appalachia: a Lenten presentation of Appalachian sacred music
A variety of sacred Appalachian music, including shape note songs, folk and bluegrass hymns, and psalm tunes in the Primitive Baptist tradition.
Wednesday March 18, 2009, 7:00 pm
St James' Episcopal Church, 155 N 6th St, Zanesville
CELTIC VOYAGES
A feast of traditional songs from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and Appalachia. Dance tunes, ballads, hymns, airs, waulking songs, broadsides, and a bluegrass style 'Gloria' from Carol Barnett's bluegrass mass. Other arrangements by Percy Grainger, the King's Singers, C V Stanford, Gareth Glyn, Michael McGlynn (of the Irish folk group Anuna), Alice Parker and Stephen Hatfield.
Saturday May 2, 2009, 7:00 pm
St James' Episcopal Church
155 N 6th St, Zanesville
Friday May 8, 2009, 8:00 pm
King Avenue United Methodist Church
299 King Ave, Columbus
Saturday May 9, 2009, 8:00 pm
Trinity Episcopal Church
125 E Broad St, Columbus
CELTIC FESTIVAL CONCERT
A feast of Celtic song and dance from Yankee Celtic Consort, the Columbus Children's Choir, Columbus Celtic Dancers, and the Magpie Consort.
Friday June 5, 2009, 7:00 pm
First Congregational Church, Columbus
ACTORS’ THEATRE
Pre-show entertainment for the Actors’ Theatre production of The Three Musketeers, in Schiller Park, Columbus
Saturday June 20, 2009, 7:30 pm
2007-2008 Season
A MEDITERRANEAN CHRISTMAS
Celebrating Christianity’s roots in the Middle East and Mediterranean, our program this December includes Arab Christian melodies, a Coptic chant, a Jewish song about longing for the Messiah, and Christmas songs from Spain, Italy, Hungary, and Greece – as well as beautiful contemporary and renaissance compositions featuring Bethlehem and Jerusalem. Music includes Palestrina’s Surge illuminare Jerusalem, a beautiful piece based on the Hebrew word ‘Selah’ by American composer Dan Forrest, a new setting by Sheena Phillips of the Advent hymn Rorate coeli desuper, and compositions by Sandström, Busto, Ingalls, and Ives.
Sunday December 2, 2007, 4:00 pm
First Presbyterian Church, Findlay, Ohio
Sunday December 9, 2007, 6:00 pm
St Francis of Assisi Church, 386 Buttles Ave, Columbus
Friday December 14, 2007, 8:00 pm
St James Episcopal Church, Clintonville (at Calumet & Oakland Park)
Saturday December 15, 2007, 8:00 pm
St John’s Episcopal Church, 600 High Street, Worthington
Our collection at St Francis of Assisi Church in December 2007 raised $690 for the work of the International Red Cross in the Middle East.
THE SOUND OF AMERICA
A combination concert, singalong, and musical history tour, based on our well received program of American choral music. Shake off the January blues and come along to warm your voices and souls with a feast of strong traditional tunes and songs of worship.
Sunday January 20, 2008, 7:00 pm
All Shepherds Lutheran Church, Lewis Center
Sunday January 27, 2008, 3:00 pm
Covenant Presbyterian Church, Upper Arlington
DANCES AND LULLABIES
A program of delightful madrigals, secular and sacred dances, evening hymns, and lullabies. The menu includes dances from Argentina, Brazil, Haiti, Croatia, Georgia, India, and the British Isles, and works by John Dowland, Gustav Holst, Henry Purcell, Alec Wilder, Alice Parker, and Vaughan Williams.
Sunday May 25, 2008, 3:00 pm
Maria-Joseph Chapel, Dayton
Sunday June 1, 7:00 pm
Bethel Lutheran Church, Grove City
Sunday June 8, 2:00 pm
First Congregational Church, Columbus
2006-2007 Season
THIS WIDE WORLD
This concert features extracts from our spring program ‘Earth, River, Sky’ as well as new material, including songs from the Middle East and Southern Africa.
Sunday October 22, 2006, 4:00 pm
Asbury United Methodist Church, Delaware
A CLASSICAL AFFAIR
Music for annual classical music showcase and holiday shopping event at Tuttle Mall.
Sunday November 12, 2006, 6.30 pm
The Mall at Tuttle Crossing, Columbus
LIGHT AND GOLD
Heavenly and earthly music of angels and shepherds, collected in Magpie fashion from many times and places. Highlights this year include a Kyrie by Lithuanian composer Miskinis, a delightful Hodie by the Renaissance composer Sweelinck, and music by Arcadelt, Lasso, Schnabel, Chatman, Whitacre, Daley, Pearsall, anon, and of course Sheena Phillips. The Magpies will be joined by Tim Smith, Organist at First Congregational Church, at all three venues.
Saturday December 2, 2006, 1;00 pm
Upper Arlington Public Library
2800 Tremont Rd, Upper Arlington
Friday December 8, 2006, 8:00 pm
St James Episcopal Church (at Oakland Pk and Calumet St in Clintonville)
Saturday December 9, 2006, 8:00 pm
St John’s Episcopal Church, High St, Worthington
Sunday December 10, 2006, 6:00 pm
First Congregational Church, 444 E Broad Street, Columbus
THE SOUND OF AMERICA
Early American hymnody, Shaker tunes, African-American spirituals, folk songs, work songs, and contemporary compositions by a wide range of American composers.
Saturday March 17, 2007, 2:00 pm
Columbus Main Library
96 S Grant Street, Columbus OH 43215
Sunday April 15, 2007, 4:00 pm
Summit United Methodist Church>/p>
82 E 16th Ave, Columbus OH 43201 (OSU campus area)
Sunday April 22, 2007, 4;00 pm
First Unitarian Universalist Church 93 W Weisheimer Rd, Columbus OH 43214
Sunday May 27, 2007, 7:00 pm
Bethel Lutheran Church
4501 Hoover Rd, Grove City OH 43123
This program was aided financially by the Greater Columbus Arts Council
2005-2006 Season
A Classical Affair
November 2005
Music for the annual classical music showcase and holiday shopping event at Tuttle Mall, Columbus
A Joyful Noise
December 2005
Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus
St John’s Episcopal Church, Worthington
St James’ Episcopal Church, Clintonville
A seasonal program of folk songs, renaissance music and contemporary writing, featuring extracts from the newly released Christmas CD All hayle to the days. With Eugene Braig (mandolin and guitar) and Jennifer Bell (flute and harp).
Earth, river, sky
March, May & June 2006
Columbus Main Library (preview)
Trinity Lutheran Church, Columbus
Worthington Presbyterian Church
Maria-Joseph Chapel, Dayton
Songs inspired by landscape, from Finland, Poland, South Africa, India, Japan, England and North America. With Kordula de Kuthy (cello).
2004-2005 Season
A Classical Affair
November 2004
Music for the annual classical music showcase and holiday shopping event at Tuttle Mall, Columbus
Northern Lights
December 2004 & January 2005
St James’ Episcopal Church, Clintonville
First Congregational Church, Columbus
St John’s Episcopal Church, Worthington
Riley Hall, Otterbein College, Westerville
Seasonal renaissance and contemporary writing music from Scotland, Germany, England, and America, featuring the delightful Magnificat Quinti Toni by Hähnel (‘Galliculus’) and Buxtehude’s In dulci jubilo. With guests The Merry Makers (recorder ensemble).
March Madness
March 2005
Broad Street United Methodist Church
Joint world music program with the Columbus Women’s Chorus and Koleinu! Jewish community choir.
Rhythms of Life
May 2005
Columbus Main Library
Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus
Columbus Music Hall
Dance tunes, work songs, love songs, lullabies, and songs of praise – chosen for their rhythmic contrasts and for the importance of rhythm to their musical effects. From the flow of medieval plainchant, via pieces depicting fireflies, crickets and birds, to the different rhythms of Jewish prayer, Galician lullaby, Shaker dance and native Brazilian call and response.
2003-2004 Season
A Classical Affair
November 2003
Music for the annual classical music showcase and holiday shopping event at Tuttle Mall, Columbus
Darkness into Light
December 2003
Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus
St James’ Episcopal Church, Clintonville
Summit United Methodist Church, Columbus
Mozart’s, Indianola Avenue
Music for Advent and the new year
Sounds of the East
March 2004
Broad Street Presbyterian Church, Columbus
A workshop (open to the public) and concert of music from Russia and Eastern Europe. A collaboration with the Slavic folk choir Rusalka (dir. Greg Halbe) and members of the Broadstreet Choir (dir. Joel Mathias).
Voices of Day and Night
May 2004
First Congregational Church, Columbus
Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Lancaster
Madrigals, folk songs and other music portraying the shifting moods of day and night. With financial support from the Greater Columbus Arts Council.
2002-2003 Season
A Medieval Christmas Story
December 2002
Church of Seventh Day Adventists, Worthington
Trinity Lutheran Church, Columbus
St James’ Episcopal Church, Clintonville
First Congregational Church, Columbus
Original music drama by Sheena Phillips, based on medieval mystery plays and incorporating medieval and newly composed music. Scored for voices, handbells, oboes, recorders, percussion and viol. With guests The Merry Makers recorder ensemble, members of The Symphonic Handbells of Columbus, and oboists Carol and Jim Liddle.
Visions of heaven
March & April 2003
Worthington United Methodist Church
Covenant Presbyterian Church, Upper Arlington
Devotional music and spirituals, poetry by William Blake, Emily Dickinson, Dante Alighieri, and original music by Sheena Phillips, Ron Cook and Christine Fraser Ramsay. With harps, cup-bells, synthesizer, flute, viol and cymbal as well as the twelve voices of the Magpie Consort, and guests Ron and Janice Cook.
Water Music
May & June 2003
Columbus Museum of Art
Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus
Covenant Presbyterian Church, Upper Arlington
Songs, poetry, instrumental music and visual images on the theme of water, from thirst and tears to rivers, lakes and all the enchantment of the open sea. With Jim and Carol Liddle (oboe), Kathryn Liddle (violin and viola), Sarah Lange (flute), Connie Foster (narrator), Barbara Ford (recorder), Alexa Hupper (harp) and Kordula de Kuthy (cello).
Columbus Arts Festival
June 2003
Music for the Champagne stroll
Shuffles, shanties and sundry songs
July 2003
Opening music for the Kodály Institue summer course at Capital University
2001-2002 Season
A Medieval Christmas Story
December 2001
Church of Seventh Day Adventists, Worthington
Trinity Lutheran Church, Columbus
St James’ Episcopal Church, Clintonville
First Congregational Church, Columbus
Original music drama by Sheena Phillips, based on medieval mystery plays and incorporating medieval and newly composed music. Scored for voices, handbells, oboes, recorders, percussion and viol. With guests The Merry Makers recorder ensemble, bellplate ringers The Shepherds Bells, and oboists Carol and Jim Liddle.
Visions of heaven
May 2002
First Congregational Church, Columbus
St James’ Episcopal Church, Clintonville
St Patrick’s Episcopal Church, Dublin
Columbus Main Library (short program)
A sequence of music and poetry on the theme of heaven. With guests Ron and Janice Cook and Christine Fraser Ramsay.
Columbus Arts Festival
June 2002
Music for the Champagne stroll
