Music in the Tavern: Ringrose and Freeman - Christmas

// A CELTIC CHRISTMAS CONCERT STANLEY-WHITMAN HOUSE //

In older times, music often took center stage in the colder months. As the seasons turned and long winter nights set in, the demands of the growing season were largely done for the year, allowing more time for a tune, a song, or perhaps a story to fill the evenings. Join Ringrose & Freeman as the historic rooms of the Stanley-Whitman House come alive with music in a special on-line presentation to celebrate the winter solstice and the Christmas season.

This unique Celtic duo combines singer/guitarist Dan Ringrose, whose voice has been called "stunning", and fiddler Jeanne Freeman, who has been described as "effortlessly virtuosic." Together, they bring a lively freshness to traditional and original tunes and songs, along with stories, poetry, and humor. They have been featured on Connecticut Television, as well as many other television and radio programs, and have performed at numerous music festivals and venues.

"Fiddler extraordinaire Jeanne Freeman ... a casual virtuosity...the music is light, airy, and fun, and...really, really good....guitarist Danny Ringrose showcases a stunning voice in a duet that demonstrates why he and Freeman often perform as a duo...." - The Fretboard Journal

Dan Ringrose was reared on Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem music and began singing their songs by the age of three. With his rich and powerful baritone voice, a mischievous sense of humor, and a comfortable command of the stage, Dan has entertained crowds in festivals, fairs, and concert halls for 30 years. Along with numerous radio and television appearances, he has performed with some of the most notable names in Celtic music, including Tommy Makem, fiddler P.V. O’Donnell, The Clancy Brothers, John Whelan, and others. He has taught at the Connecticut Academy of Irish Music and has a number of solo recordings.

Jeanne Freeman is the founder and Director of the Connecticut Academy of Irish Music, where she teaches Irish fiddle to students of all ages. Classically trained in her early years, Jeanne studied Irish fiddling with friend and mentor, the late Donegal fiddler P.V. O'Donnell. Jeanne has performed as the featured Irish fiddle soloist with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra and has been the Guest Artist for Simsbury Public School’s town-wide String Festival. She teaches and performs regularly and hosts traditional Irish music sessions throughout the area. Jeanne appears on a number of recordings, including her solo debut CD, “The Fiddler You Are.”

Stanley-Whitman House's Music in the Tavern Series presents artists and shows differently than a club show- instead, our house concert is more up close and personal. All of the artifice is stripped away. There is no stage, no dressing rooms, and no barrier between the performer and the audience. The SWH Music in the Tavern series is more like being one step closer to how music was intended- an artist traveling from town to town, telling stories, and making friends. Come check this out!

In 1935, Stanley-Whitman House was established as Farmington's first museum. It is a nationally recognized historic house museum and living history center that teaches through the collection, preservation, research, and dynamic interpretation of the history and culture of early Farmington, Connecticut. Programs, events, classes, and exhibits encourage visitors of all ages to immerse themselves in history by doing, acting, questioning, and engaging in colonial life and the ideas that formed the foundation of that culture.

Located in the historic village of Farmington, the museum facility centers on a circa 1720 National Historic Landmark house furnished with period antiques to reflect the everyday activities of Colonial life in Connecticut. Surrounding the house are period-raised bed gardens, an apple orchard, and heritage stone walls.

The public service areas of the museum, constructed in 2004, include a modern classroom, a period tavern room, a post-and-beam Welcome Center, a research library, an exhibit gallery, the Nancy Conklin History Gallery, and a collection storage area.

In addition to managing Memento Mori, Farmington’s ancient cemetery on Main Street, and the Village Green, located at the intersection of Routes 4 and 10, the museum also oversees the Scott Swamp Cemetery on Route 6. The Stanley-Whitman House is supported in part by the Farmington Village Green and Library Association.

At Stanley Whitman House, our commitment to accessibility is paramount. While not all of our programs are free, we strive to offer as many as possible at no cost, thanks to the generous support of our underwriters. If you wish to assist us in this mission, we welcome donations, which help us to expand further and diversify our range of activities. Your contributions play a crucial role in maintaining and increasing the accessibility of our programs.

Host or Publisher Stanley-Whitman House