WhoFish - Local Events and Activities

Title:	The Queens Delight
Date:	10/4/2026 (Sunday)
Address:	Somerville Museum, One Westwood Road (at Central St.), Somerville, MA 02143
Location:	Somerville, MA
Hours:	3:00 pm
Cost/Cover:	$30 general; $25 students & seniors; $20 Museum members
Web Page:	https://www.somervillemuseum.org/calendar-events/early-music ...
Contact Info:	For more details, call (617) 666-9810 or go to https://www.somervillemuseum.org/calendar-events/early-music-afternoons-the-queens-delight

Details:

The new season of Early Music Afternoons begins on Sunday, October 4, 2026, with a concert of music for lutes, cittern, orpharion, and bandora, performed by The Night Watchmen (Olav Chris Henriksen and Matthew Wright). The duo will play early 17th-century music from England, France and Italy, including works by Holborne, Dowland, Vallet, Besard, Kapsperger and Piccinini. The concert takes place at 3:00 pm at the Somerville Museum, One Westwood Road (at Central St.), Somerville, MA. Admission is $30 general admission, $25 students and seniors, $20 Museum members. Tickets are available in advance and at the door. Street parking is available, and the Museum is ADA compliant. For further information, call (617) 666-9810 or go to https://www.somervillemuseum.org/calendar-events/early-music-afternoons-the-queens-delight

Because of technological advancements in the manufacture of strings, by the late 16th century, European luthiers were able to build lutes with lower bass strings, as well as new bass and tenor-size instruments of the wire-strung cittern family. Composers then began to write solos, vocal music, and duos, using all possible combinations of the smaller and larger plucked instruments. Come and hear The Night Watchmen play these beautiful and seldom-heard instruments in preludes, canzonas, sinfonias, toccatas and dances from the European courts. Some of the music may sound familiar: Chris and Matt will play a suite of “Bransles de Village” by Besard, which was one of the inspirations for Respighi’s “Ancient Airs and Dances”.

Chris Henriksen and Matthew Wright have played together many times, collaborating on several projects including Seven Times Salt, Music for Viols and Friends, and other musical adventures, but from time to time they especially enjoy performing together as a duo. Chris has a jazz background, and these days he performs regularly as a soloist and ensemble player on lutes, theorbo, and early guitars. Matt used to be bass guitarist in a rock band, as well as playing classical guitar, and now he spends his time on lute, bandora, archlute, and other unusual instruments (he also sings). Both are respected musicians and are well known in the Boston area and beyond.