Kindred Spirits returns to Grey Towers

MILFORD, PA — Kindred Spirits Arts Programs will return to its original home on Saturday, June 9, when it presents the Parker String Quartet on the grounds of Grey Towers at 5:30 p.m. The concert is free.

In keeping with the theme of returning to one’s roots, the concert on June 9 will feature the music of Pennsylvania native Samuel Barber. Born in West Chester, PA, Barber attended Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute of Music. His works are characterized by their lyrical melodies, complex harmonies and an embrace of a variety of musical influences. His music is known for its ability to strike an emotional chord that resonates with the listener. The concert will feature his most well known orchestral work, the Adagio from his Quartet Opus 11.

The program will also include Haydn’s Quartet in G minor Opus 74 Number 3, known as “Reiter.” Haydn, a towering figure in music from the Classical period, is generally credited with inventing the string quartet as a musical form that is now virtually synonymous with chamber music.

The third work, Smetana’s quartet in E minor, “From My Life,” not only echoes his musical heritage but also the composer’s life with all its struggles, triumphs and tragic losses.

Since 2002, Kindred Spirits has collaborated with the Pinchot Institute for Conservation, the United States Forest Service, the Pocono Environmental Education Center and various local churches to awaken a deeper appreciation of the natural world through exposure to the arts.