In 1776, New England was full of music. Songs with a driving beat helped speed the work in kitchens and workshops. Soldiers marched to fife-and-drum tunes, youths sang melodies of passion, mothers crooned lullabies, and churches rang with hymns. Music was an important weapon in the battle for hearts and minds, as both sides created songs to encourage either rebellion or loyalty to the crown. Diane Taraz presents songs enjoyed by both sides during the time of the American Revolution. In colonial dress, she sings and accompanies herself on authentic instruments and explores the fascinating world behind the lyrics.
Diane Taraz is an internationally known singer and songwriter, with hundreds of songs streaming on all the digital platforms. One of her original songs and her interpretation of a traditional carol have been used in television and film soundtracks. She is also a fabric artist and sews much of the apparel she wears for her programs, presented at museums, libraries, historical societies, and universities throughout New England. For over a decade she directed the Lexington Historical Society Colonial Singers and produced two albums for them. In 2023 she wrote Candace: Imagining the Life of a Woman Enslaved in 18th-Century New England. Her second book, published in 2024, explores a later era: Daughter of the Waves: The Victorian Life of Celia Laighton Thaxter. For more information, visit her website at www.dianetaraz.com.
Join the Friends of the Robbins Library for the last concert in this season’s Reading Room Concert Series. We are welcoming back the exceptionally talented local singer/songwriter Diane Taraz, this time with her renditions of Songs of the Revolution. This event will take place in the Reading Room of the Robbins Library on Sunday, April 13, 2025 at 3 pm. Admission is free and all are welcome.