A beautiful concert in the Rehoboth Village – Ed Iannuccilli

Sometimes the best part of the GPS is when I take the wrong turn even under guidance. Then the GPS guru wants to reroute you and that is exactly what happened on Sunday. And it was good because it rerouted us through the beautiful countryside on a lovely fall day as we trekked to our destination. Sometimes the best time is when you make a wrong turn.

The trees were just beginning to cooperate, teasing us with fall colors, some early golds and oranges, not quite peaked but enough to enjoy. Fields of brown and green and horses in the meadows treated us as we drifted to our destination; a quaint pleasant building just a spit down the road… The Goff Memorial Hall in Rehoboth, Massachusetts.

As we exited our car we noted a distant aroma of wood. The air was cool. It was fall.

Our friends, Ed and Judith, introduced us to this gem a few years ago when they told us of the “Arts in the Village” concerts sponsored by the Rehoboth Antiquarian Society and held periodically throughout the year. We’ve been to a number of them and have not been disappointed.

The Goff Memorial Hall was erected out of brick in 1915 and houses Rehoboth’s Blanding Public Library in addition to the Goff Memorial Hall, an addition to the library that seamlessly matches the original architecture and details of the historic building. Holding I would guess up to one hundred, It is a wonderful venue for a concert with outstanding acoustics. On this day we were treated to a concert by The Providence Mandolin Orchestra with its director and soloist, Marc Davis. The musicians were tucked neatly on the small stage just above eye level. I had not heard the orchestra in years and was sorry I missed them for so long.

It was a treat. I loved the light, vibrant, crisp, rapid plucking technique, and the delicate, shimmering sound. I’m not a music critic, but the concert this day seemed to fit perfectly with the intimacy of Goff Hall.

Here is what I noted on The Orchestra’s site (my editing): “Our Goff Hall Arts in the Village concert on October 6 was a big success — full house and another standing O at the end! Hankus Netzky, the composer of “Chagall’s Mandolins” was in attendance with his wife and was thrilled with the performance of his piece. This was our ninth (!) performance in the “Arts in the Village” series (the first was in 2006).”

So look at the consistency of both Arts in the Village and The Providence Mandolin Orchestra. They’re doing something right.

Inaugurated in 2001, Arts in the Village is a classical concert series whose purpose is to enrich the community by presenting cultural events that enlighten and inspire.

The beauty of the landscape matched the beauty of the music in the perfect place. Which is all good.

Oh, and at day’s end, the society served up several homemade treats. There are more concerts for the season. Go to the website.

rehobothantiquarian.org/arts-in-the-village/

Look at the upcoming programs. You won’t be disappointed.

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Ed Iannuccilli – edwrites.net