Ignatius Sancho, February 20

On Monday, February 20, the English Country Dancers will celebrate Black History Month by presenting an evening of rarely-heard music and dances by Ignatius Sancho. Sancho lived in England in the 18th century and was the first black composer ever to have his works published. This event is of great historic interest, as it may well be the first time since the 18^th century that his music and dances have been experienced together as originally intended. Sancho’s music soon will be published again by Music by Black Composers, which is a project of the Rachel Barton Pine Foundation. (To learn more about this project, go to http://www.musicbyblackcomposers.org.)

Callers Mady Newfield and Tammy Ravitts Bretscher are reconstructing Sancho’s dances and will teach them to the dancers at this event. Sancho’s music will be interpreted brilliantly by Tim Macdonald and Rachel Barton Pine on fiddle, along with Jeremy Ward on cello. All are welcome to participate in the dancing, and there will also be seating for spectators. Suggested donation is $15 for adults; $10 for students, seniors, and those with limited income; $5 for non-dancing spectators. Proceeds benefit the Scholarship Fund, so additional donations are always welcome. This is a fragrance-free event, so those attending are asked to refrain from wearing perfume and other heavily scented products.