Harpsichord Festival Part II

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GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The Berkshire Bach Society continues its 34th season on Sunday, Nov. 12, 4pm, with the second concert in its Harpsichord Festival—The Ensemble Harpsichord with Elliot Figg and Caitlyn Koester.  
 
The duo plays works by scions of the dominant keyboard dynasties in the Baroque era, J.S. & W.F. Bach and Louis & François Couperin.  The event is a preview of the concert they will present on Nov. 30 at St. Malachy's Church in New York City, sponsored by Gotham Early Music Scene, Inc.
 
"We're delighted to welcome two new harpsichordists to the Berkshire Bach family," said Terrill McDade, Interim Executive Director of The Berkshire Bach Society. "Actually, Elliot and Caitlyn have strong connections to Berkshire Bach.  They are graduates of the Juilliard Historical Performance Program and have studied or worked with at least three Berkshire Bach harpsichordists familiar to our audience—Kenneth Weiss, Peter Sykes, and Arthur Haas—and in fact, they're borrowing two instruments from Peter Sykes for the performance.  In the first concert of our festival, we heard music from the early Baroque, including Sweelinck and the English Virginalists. This time we hear something even more uncommon—repertoire from the late Baroque for two harpsichords, four hands.  It should be a fascinating event that expands our understanding of what the Baroque music scene was really like." 
 
Join The Berkshire Bach Society for this program of rarely heard repertoire and enjoy a sneak preview of the New York event.  The concert takes place at The Kellogg Music Center located on the campus of Bard College at Simon's Rock (84 Alford Road, Great Barrington).
 
Tickets:  $45 for non-members, $40 for Berkshire Bach members, available at www.berkshirebach.org/events and at the door.  As always, children under 18 and students with valid ID are admitted free.
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Butternut Fire 40 Percent Contained

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The Butternut Fire is 40 percent contained and the command post has been moved to Butternut Ski Area.

Tuesday brought welcome rain and first responders operated with a smaller crew focused on observing. One week into the wildfire, officials maintain that conditions are improving and the public should not be alarmed.

"After additional data gathered yesterday and compiled overnight, we can say with confidence that the fire is 40 percent contained," the Great Barrington Fire Department wrote on Tuesday morning.

"We expect that this containment number will grow rapidly as more verification data is obtained. Do NOT get hung up on the numbers — the fire is controlled and we have not lost any ground — this is simply a number that is used for official reporting. Let us say that again — the fire is controlled."

The department is collecting data and getting more accurate measurements and GPS locations of the burned area, expecting that the acreage involved will grow.

"Let us be clear – the fire did not grow; the data became more accurate," GBFD clarified.

"The perimeter around the fire is expected to be as much as 10 miles. To put the acreage involved in perspective, if the marking on the perimeter moves 1 foot, you have added 1.2 acres. 100 feet (less than 1/3 of a football field) would add 121 acres."

They reiterated that the area is dangerous and the public should stay clear. The smell of smoke will continue and is not a cause for alarm but if air quality deteriorates, the Department of Public Health will provide updated guidance.

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