The following photos of Bells & Motley Olden Music, Dance and Storytelling may be used for promotional purposes for their performances or workshops. Credit to Bells & Motley, unless otherwise noted.
Images are grouped according to program themes and venues.
Each photo is available as a 300 dpi JPG. Select a photo, click "press image" to open a high resolution photo in a new window. Right click on press photo, or press Command-S, and choose "Save Picture As."
"EARLY INSTRUMENT SPLENDOR" [ press image] |
"EARLY INSTRUMENT SPLENDOR" Left, a selection of historic instruments from our Renaissance & Medieval collection: starting in lower right-hand corner, ccw SATB Crumhorns, Hurdy Gurdy, assorted whistles (Catalan, Provencal, English), Lute, Breton French bagpipe "veuze," Medieval frame drum, Celtic harp, a rack of assorted historic reeds (SAT shawms, Breton bombard), rebec (Medieval fiddle), viol da gamba, gemshorn For a close-up look at these and other very rare instruments in our collection, visit our "Bells & Motley Instrumentarium" webpage! |
Authentic Music, Instruments, Dance Instruction, Storytelling
Bells & Motley's Renaissance Faire "Instrumentarium" Stage Their collection of period winds & strings is a bonafide early instrument museum! [press image] |
Bells & Motley delight in teaching a grand variety of lively period dances to visitors of all ages each weekend at Sterling Renaissance Faire! [press image] |
"Legend of Tristan & Iseult" Sondra & John Bromka at Faire, telling they acclaimed version of the Medieval Celtic tale, accompanied by harp and nyckelharpa [press image] |
John Bromka stands before a table displaying historic stringed instruments he has hand-crafted [press image] |
EARLY AMERICAN, COLONIAL, & CELTIC HERITAGE CONCERTS
"15 Miles on the Erie Canal" Original Folk Operetta Sondra & John Bromka with button accordion, banjo, & Sal! [press image] |
"Colonial Conviviality" Sondra & John Bromka with harp and nyckelharpa at Senate House, Albany [press image] |
"Celtic Muse & Minstrelsy" Sondra & John Bromka with harp and lute photo credit Peter Grabko [press image] |
CHRISTMAS CONCERTS
Sondra & John Bromka with hurdy gurdy and magic box photo credit Cyndi Smith [press image] |
Sondra & John Bromka with mandocello and tabor drum Morgan Opera House photo credit Cyndi Smith [press image] |
Sondra & John Bromka with harp and hurdy gurdy, 1890 House, Cortland photo credit Deanna Pace [press image] |
Sondra & John Bromka with harp and Northumbrian bagpipes Lorenzo State Historic Site [press image] |
MUSICAL STORYTELLING & CONCERTS FOR CHILDREN, FAMILIES, ADULTS
Sondra & John Bromka explore a great array of instruments in various programs. These include "Music, World Instruments, & the Science of Sound" and "Who Has Heard the Wind," accompanying participatory musical storytelling "The Boy Who Went to Visit the North Wind" [press image] |
Sondra & John Bromka with Medieval Nyckelharpa, harp, and love potion "The Medieval Celtic Legend of Tristan & Iseult" authentic historic storytelling for teens & adults [press image] |
CHINESE TRADITIONS & PAGEANTRY "BAWSHOU & THE DRAGON"
Sondra & John Bromka hear the message of the golden phoenix bird |
Students made dragon masks, and are ready to perform their title role |
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
BELLS & MOTLEY OLDEN MUSIC, DANCE, and STORYTELLING" are the husband and wife team of Sondra Bromka and John Bromka. They perform on a wide range of period instruments (many researched and reconstructed by the artists themselves!) Authentic music and a world of rare instruments are featured in the artists’ concerts, original theater works, folk operettas, music & dance workshops, and participatory musical storytelling performances for all ages.
CONCERT PRESS The duo "BELLS & MOTLEY OLDEN MUSIC" is best known for the wonderful collection of historic and traditional instruments they have amassed, both from Early American and European musical traditions. All acoustic, instruments range from Medieval to Trad Folk to World Music. Here are just some of the instruments they enjoy playing at their concerts: two or three different types of bagpipes (both loud and soft), Celtic harp, Hurdy Gurdy, Swedish keyed fiddle "nyckelharpa," lute and recorders, guitar, fiddle, early versions of the mandolin, button accordion, and hammered dulcimer. And of course, their voices - Sondra and John love to sing!
Their range of musical styles is broad; here are some popular program themes:
- Songs from the American and British Isles Agricultural traditions, like John Barleycorn
- Dance tunes on button accordion and hurdy gurdy
- Our Northumbrian bagpipes + Celtic Harp repertoire
- Hammered dulcimer with Swedish nyckelharpa
- Lively songs, dance tunes, and traditional instruments from rural France (and also teaching some French and English dances to patrons in the festival streets, impromptu)
AS TEACHING ARTISTS, this multi-faceted duo has served the education field as both teaching artists and consultants in arts integration since 1981. Backgrounds include degrees in music and art education, a life-long interest in historic and traditional music and dance, and a wealth of rare resources and insights from international teaching residencies abroad, including France, Germany, Belgium, Turkey. In addition to assembly performances and workshops, the Bromkas collaborate with teachers to create arts-infused, curriculum-based residencies, designed especially in support of K-12 curriculum and learning standards
FAVORITE HISTORIC & CULTURAL THEMES in both public and school performances include: Medieval/ Renaissance/ Colonial/ Erie Canal Heritage/ Traditional French, Chinese, British, Celtic/ Science of Sound + World Instruments
1-PAGE BIOGRAPHY[click to open pdf]
[Bells & Motley Home Page]
[About the Artists]
[News + Calendar]
[CDs, Books]
[ Instrumentarium Photos ]
[E-Mail Us]
[Bells & Motley Home Page] [About the Artists] [News + Calendar] [CDs, Books]
[ Instrumentarium Photos ] [E-Mail Us]
Bells & Motley Olden Music, Dance, and Storytelling
Sondra Bromka, John Bromka
Marcellus, NY 13108
Phone: (315) 673-2995
Email: info@bellsandmotley.com
This www.bellsandmotley.com web site and its content is the exclusive property of Sondra Bromka and John Bromka.
©2016 Sondra Bromka. All rights reserved in all media.