Gillette and Mangsen at The Bookhouse

The Eastern Monroe Public Library (EMPL) in Stroudsburg, PA presented Steve Gillette and Cindy Mangsen on Friday October 28th as part of their Bookhouse concert series. The event was well attended and, after a brief introduction from Linnae Cintron of the EMPL, the atmosphere of the library’s Edinger Community Room became filled with a wonderful array of folk tunes written throughout the ages as well as some original works written by the duo either together or individually. The performance was enhanced by the duo’s gentle demeanor creating the pleasant sense of community the room was designed to inspire.

Each song had it’s own history and it was shared not only through the entertaining introductions the couple conveyed but also through the expertly crafted narrative renditions of each piece and the instruments they employed (which included concertinas). Their entire musical arsenal allowed the essence of each song to become prominent as each theme and its subtle nuances were explored and revealed. The varied effect of the selection of songs could be seen in the faces of the audience whose countenances ranged from smiles and laughter to reflections upon the haunting melodies that entered their imagination and memories.

During the course of the concert, a friend of the duo who performs with them often took the stage to join them in a few wonderfully performed tunes. Anne Hills’ vocals added additional texture to the already splendid interpretations of the music performed throughout the evening. Ms. Hills’ performance proved to be a wonderful treat to the audience as it added to the delight the Steve and Cindy established earlier. You’ll find more photographs in The Music 2011 Gallery at www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150134623910421.332199.636000420&type=1&l=5c69119dd6.

Steve Gillette and Cindy Mangsen began traveling, performing, and recording together since their marriage in 1989. Their CDs include a “Live In Concert” album recorded in 1991 at The Ark in Ann Arbor, MI, “The Light Of The Day” which was named Top Folk Album of 1996, “A Sense of Place” which was released in 2001, and “Being There” which was released in 2006. In addition to her musical talents, Anne Hills is also known for her literary and theatrical skills. She has received numerous honors thoughout her career which includes the WFMA 2002 Kate Wolf Memorial Award and The Kerrville Music Foundation’s Outstanding Female Vocalist of the Year Award (1997). In addition to the Bookhouse performance in which she accompanied Steve and Cindy, she performed on a children’s CD titled, “Never Grow Up” in 1998 with Cindy and participated in a collaborative endeavor with Steve and Cindy for a CD titled, “Fourtold.” Please Explore The Steve Gillette and Cindy Mangsen Website at www.compassrosemusic.com and The Anne Hills Website at www.annehills.com to learn more information about their music, future concerts, and how to obtain a CD for your music collection.

##The Eastern Monroe Public Library (aka The Hughes Library) is located on N. 9th Street (aka route 611) in Stroudsburg, PA. It is the main branch of the Monroe County, PA library system which include their Pocono Township Branch in Tannersville, PA and their Smithfield’s Branch in Marshalls Creek, PA. The library offers access to numerous books, DVDs, Audio Recordings, and cultural programs free to the public. The library’s BookHouse series is part of its cultural programs designed to provide a venue for literary and musical events which are outside of the commercial and literary mainstream. Please Explore The Eastern Monroe Public Library Website at www.monroepl.org to learn more information about the library, their BookHouse series, and all the institution has to offer the community.