A Perfect Spot of Tea
Honest Harmony
New England A cappella music from 15th to 19th centuries
July 21 at 2:30 and 3:30pm

HADLEY— Saturday, July 21, “A Perfect Spot of Tea” series at the Porter-Phelps-Huntington Museum’s continues with Honest Harmony performing historical a cappella music from the 15th-19th centuries. Afternoon tea with good company, interesting conversation, and lively music has been a tradition at the Porter-Phelps-Huntington house for over two hundred and fifty years. Local residents have been coming to the Porter-Phelps-Huntington house for tea since 1752, the year of the home’s construction. Elizabeth Porter Phelps, a resident of the house from 1752 until her death in 1817, noted in her diary that she and her family would invite ten to fifteen couples for tea at least once a week. Travelers and friends would “tarry” a while over the beverage that “cheers but not inebriates.” Elizabeth’s daughter, Elizabeth, met her future husband, Dan Huntington, at one of these weekly events. The museum continues this tradition every Saturday afternoon in July and August, offering tea, pastries, and performances by local musicians on the historic back veranda.

Honest Harmony which features soprano Barbara Mathews, alto Cindy Naughton, baritone Ijod Schroeder, and tenor John Vance has been performing together on and off for the past 13 years, their passion lying in historical music. The group’s a cappella performances have explored the historical repertoire of small-ensemble singing from the 12th through the 20th centuries. Honest Harmony has appeared several times at “A Perfect Spot of Tea” and at local spots such as Old Deerfield, the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, and the First Congregational Church in Amherst.
Admission to “A Perfect Spot of Tea” is $10.00 per person, and seatings are at 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Tours of the Museum are available on the half hour for an additional fee of $4.00 for adults and $1.00 for children.

“A Perfect Spot of Tea” continues on Saturday, July 28, with Alex Jarrett and Colin Lindsay performing Irish and New England jigs, reels and waltzes.

The Porter-Phelps-Huntington Museum is located at 130 River Drive (Route 47) in Hadley, two miles north of the junction of Routes 9 and 47. The Museum is open for guided tours Saturday through Wednesday from 1:00-4:30 p.m., and by appointment. For further information about teas, tours, and Wednesday Folk Traditions, call the Museum at (413) 584-4699 or visit the website at HYPERLINK "http://www.pphmuseum.org" www.pphmuseum.org.