Morar is a small village on the west coast of Scotland. Every culture has call and response songs for communal physical labor, and this song has been sung during harvest for centuries. Heiteagan àirin huhuro, Heiteagan àirin hùo. A Mhór-thir bhoidheach, gorm do chò-ta, Fiamh an òir air t’aodainn. Heiteagan… Ianach canntaidh thu ‘s a’ […]
Two sisters sit out on a reef, reflecting on their childhood. They love the same man, yet he has chosen the younger sister for his bride. The jealous older sister lulls the younger sister to sleep with a song, braiding her hair with the seaweed that grows on the rock so that she is trapped […]
Sea Tangle Arranged by Marjory Kennedy-Fraser Voice, harp When I stumbled upon this cycle, I immediately noted that there were no recordings of these songs even though they were written in the early 20th century. Curious, I sang through some of them, and was captivated by the care and attention with which Marjory Kennedy-Fraser and […]
The wait is over! On December 21, 2016, the album will officially “drop,” and Maren will perform the music of Sea Tangle: Songs of the North to celebrate the occasion. If you have a group of 6 or more people, you can receive an additional 20% discount! Contact Maren for a discount code. Featuring the […]
PRESS ADVISORY: Network for New Music GERMANTOWN POETRY PROJECT Network for New Music announces The Germantown Poetry Project (GPP), a new initiative pairing poets, composers and musicians with Germantown-area teens and adults, with the goal of creating new poetry and music for FREE public performances in April 2017. Designed to enliven the public space at the […]
The instrumentalists playing the music of Sea Tangle are talented women from the Philadelphia area. Maren Montalbano is thrilled to be working with them both, and their combined experience with new and early music will create a unique blend of ancient and contemporary storytelling. Violin Praised for her “impeccable tone, pitch, dynamics and phrasing” (Chestnut […]
The Review The Philadelphia Inquirer review was a comparison of how the different performance spaces (Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral vs. Merkin Concert Hall) affected how the works were heard. Ms. Montalbano is mentioned briefly (using her married name, Brehm) for the solo she sang in Anna Thorvaldsdottir’s response, “Ad Genua.” Philly group The Crossing wows at […]
On June 24 & 25 in Philadelphia, Ms. Montalbano performed with The Crossing in a unique blend of old and new music. Seven Responses is a performance of Buxtehude’s Membra Jesu Nostri (a collection of 7 cantatas) alongside 7 brand new commissions. Joining The Crossing in this project are International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) and Quicksilver Baroque. The […]
A Viking warrior princess? Yes, Long before Grace O’Malley sailed the seven seas and possibly even before Xena wielded her chakram in the Mediterranean, there was Hervor.
Philly Singer Creates Opportunities for Women with New Album (& Your Support) Maren Montalbano’s album emphasizes the talents of women composers and women performers, battling the gender gap in classical music. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WILLINGBORO, New Jersey – Maren Montalbano, a professional singer in the Philadelphia area, has launched a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo to […]