Macculloch Hall Descendant Glad to Bring Violin Home

Concerts upon concerts. Five generations. One baroque violin.

Welcome to Macculloch Hall, the 18th century home where Dorothea Miller Post once resided and performed recitals on said violin.

, a classical French and Italian music ensemble featuring Elizabeth Hungerford, soprano; Johanna Novom and Post, violin; John Armato, theorbo; Andrew Arceci, viola da gamba; and John McKean, harpsichord. The performance begins at 4 p.m. 

About returning to her roots, Post said, “It is an amazing feeling to think that this house was where my family lived for five generations. And not only that, the violin that I now play actually performed in many house concerts there,” she said.

“I imagine they had a very good time, and it's nice to be able to visualize it and have a connection to it," Post said. "I know they used to play at the bottom of the spiral staircase in the entry hall, where the kids (my grandfather and his brothers) could spy on the party from upstairs when they were supposed to be in bed.”

This is not the first time the violinist has collaborated with Arceci-McKean.

“We have performed as this particular group before, and then all of us together in different configurations and groups, both in school and afterwards,” she said. “It's just so great to play and work and make music with people you really like, who are also great musicians and a creative bunch. It's like a reunion where work, and fun are combined and we sort of have a retreat.”

Arceci-McKean will be touring across the east coast, visiting Maine, New Jersey, New York and Maryland throughout early August.

Arceci, the violist, noted that while playing with friends is enjoyable, captivating an audience is just as thrilling. He cited his goal as a musician as “unearthing lost works, and making Baroque (classical) music accessible to larger audiences.

“The breathtaking 'airs de cour' by Michel Lambert (1610-1696) truly transports the listener to an earlier time. That 'escape' to an earlier time is delightful, and worth sharing with audiences.”

Arceci and McKean have been collaborating for three years, and as the group travels, Arceci said he continues to find it exhilarating.

Post recently finished two years as a member of Julliard’s first graduating class of historical performance, baroque. She said she is honored to be celebrating her grandmother’s legacy at Macculloch Hall. 

“If it weren't for the museum I could never have such a vision of what their life was like,” she said. “It was very fun to return as the family member who owns the violin and talk to the knowledgeable staff there. That's where the concert idea came from.”

, visit www.maccullochhall.org or call 973-538-2404 for ticket reservations.