Music-Making in Colonial Boston

Music-Making in Colonial Boston
Live on Zoom
November 5, 2025
7:00 – 8:30pm

Colonial Boston was home to a rich soundscape of music that helped define the lives of early New Englanders. Music-making set the tone and tempo of militia, home hospitality, tavern frivolity, and community singing circles.

Join musicologist Laura Zoll on Zoom for a fascinating exploration of colonial Boston’s varied sounds. The talk will explore questions like:

What did music sound like during the colonial era?
Who played it?
What sort of instruments were played?
How did music reflect contemporary culture and beliefs?

Laura Zoll is a musicologist with degrees in Music Theory and Medieval Musicology. She plays numerous modern and historic instruments. She is fascinated by the objects that survive to tell the story of people from our shared past who made and enjoyed music.

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Lantern & Luminaries with Ken Burns

On April 16, 2025, we were honored to present the celebrated filmmaker Ken Burns with the Third Lantern Award at Lanterns & Luminaries, our annual celebration of “two if by sea.” The award recognizes those who embody the values of leadership, courage, hope, tenacity, and active citizenship.

This video includes the full program, including remarks by Mr. Burns, Senator Ed Markey, and Governor Maura Healey. Guests at Lanterns & Luminaries enjoyed a sneak peek of Mr. Burns’s new documentary, The American Revolution, which is scheduled to premiere on PBS on November 16, 2025. An abbreviated clip from the documentary is shown in this recording of Lanterns & Luminaries.