Rochester Region: New York State Performers, Programmers & Related Resources for Public Libraries & Groups


Performer Information
Stage name:	Bells & Motley Olden Music, Dance, and Storytelling
Performer name:	Sondra & John Bromka
Phone:	315-673-2995
Mailing address:	36 South Street Marcellus, NY 13108
E-mail address:	sbromka@earthlink.net
Website:	http://www.bellsandmotley.com
Previous appearances at:	1) 30 Years at Sterling Renaissance Festival - presenting Concerts, Musical Theater, Storytelling, Historic Dance Instruction, 2) NYS Heritage and Canal Fest Events for Communities, Libraries, Schools, 3) School & Community residencies and pageants across NYS, Northeast, and Europe, 4) Historic Site thematic specialty programs for Lorenzo, Crailo, French Azilum, Sackets Harbor, Olana, many more; also France, Germany, & Belgium, 5) Libraries across all areas of NYS, and locally in Marcellus, Onondaga Hill; see our website for complete lists Contact information for New York State Public Libraries
Information last updated:	05/15/2012

Records 1-10 of 27 Next >

Program
Category
Description
Fee

Musical Traditions of Ireland & Other Celtic Lands History,
Music,
Performing Arts- Dance

The Bromkas have been performing concerts of traditional Celtic music as a duo for the past 20 years, gathering a rich and varied repertoire, and acquainting eager audiences with the traditions and mysteries found within that heritage. For the Celts, music and mythology are closely intertwined, with potent images evoked on the traditional instruments including fiddle, harp, hammered dulcimer, squeezeboxes, pennywhistle, bodhran (Irish frame drum.) Of special interest are John’s collection of different bagpipes, representing several Celtic traditions. To complement the Irish, the artists share favorite music within the Welsh, Manx, Breton, Scottish, and Galician Celtic traditions.
$351- $500

Historic Music and Dance Celebrations of Many Cultures History,
Music,
Performing Arts- Dance

Bells & Motley's International Instruments, with International Folk Dances for Families; Special topics include Celebrating NYS Heritage with Dutch Music and French Cultural Heritage Concerts, Performances, Celebrations See www.bellsandmotley.com website for detailed information, photos, and much more.
$351- $500

Dig Into China! 'BAWSHOU & the DRAGON' Traditional Chinese Folk Pageant for SUMMER READING PROGRAM 2013 Multicultural- Other,
Music,
Performing Arts- Storytelling

Dig deep into a cave of the earth--the Sun has been captured by a Fearsome Dragon and hidden away. The hero of our tale is Bawshou, a young man who courageously rises to the challenge of freeing the Sun. With the help of a golden phoenix, a small parcel of earth, a magic robe, and a heroic dream, Bawshou travels afar to seek out and rescue the Sun, for the good of his people and all the land. Children actively participate as they portray the flowing river, the sounds of the sea, the playing of the gong, the dancing stars, and much much more! The artists evoke a magical atmosphere in this important Chinese tale, employing authentic oriental techniques and traditions including stylized dramatic forms and movement, mythology, exotic costumes, and music. Chinese folk instruments (erhu, p’i p’a, guzheng harp, sona, Chinese Theatre drum, flutes & whistles, and gong) are featured, combining to make this unforgettable performance piece a joyous celebration of oriental culture. 'Bawshou' was commissioned by the Springfield MA Museum of Fine Arts in 1994. (see accompanying Chinese Dragon Mask Workshop/Parade).
$351- $500

'The Tale of Yanek & Heliotrope' - A Medieval Music & Storytelling Journey History,
Music,
Performing Arts- Theater

Audiences are instantly engaged when a Medieval merchant's cart overflowing with mysterious and intriguing musical instruments arrives. Master Craftsman Yanek is en route to the greatest trading faire in all of France. His path crosses that of Lady Heliotrope, an exuberant troubaritz (female troubadour) in search of poetic inspiration. From here the fairytale spins as their tales entwine in this authentic period storytelling production that will absolutely delight audiences of all ages. Sondra and John Bromka infuse the performance with historic music on a great variety of unusual medieval instruments-many actually built by John, an accomplished luthier in real life. An authentic and appealing program!
$351- $500

Bells & Motley Community Residencies & Revelry- Faires, Festivals, and Celebrations History,
Performing Arts- Theater,
Visual Arts- Crafts

Topics include: -Community Heritage Bicentennial and Sesquicentennial Celebrations -Labyrinth Building -Musical Instrument Building -Christmas Pageants -Playwriting & Performance on Historic themes -Renaissance Faires & Festivals -and Much more! One-of-a-kind projects enthusiastically welcome! This year, we are especially welcoming water-related themes. Got a River?
$501- $1000

'THE HURDY GURDY CHILDREN'S CONCERT: INSTRUMENTS TO TREASURE' Summer Reading Program 2-for-1 Special History,
Music,
Performing Arts- Storytelling

The artists' extensive early instrument collection features a joyous diversity of historic Medieval, Renaissance, & traditional instruments. Playing upon the intriguing and rare historic hurdy gurdy to enrich our theme and setting, we are pleased to accompany our performance journey with an early music mini-concert specially designed for children, highlighting a diverse collection of early instruments of all shapes, sizes, and materials. Imaginations are courted with the mysterious and evocative sounds. As you enjoy this exploration of historic instruments from bagpipes to 'whittle and dub' you will marvel at the wonderful ways human kind has used wood, animal horn, reed, leather, and ingenuity to invent instruments that create a rainbow of musical sounds. This program is being packaged as a 2-for-1 with 'STONE SOUP: DOUBLE TREASURE' These two complementary programs unite perfectly to appeal to all the senses, a memorable and meaningful TREASURE for the eyes, ears, and imagination!
$351- $500

The Boy Who Went to Visit the North Wind Participatory Storytelling + Children's Concert History,
Music,
Performing Arts- Storytelling

Sondra and John Bromka bring audiences on a wind-swept journey to 'long ago and far away' with the telling of this fine traditional tale. Look forward to an energetic tandem storytelling performance that is underscored with live music on Celtic harp, enriched with historic authenticity, and alive with abundant participation that is well suited to audiences of all ages. A is a tale of wonder and magic, the story unfolds when a poor boy's meal is unwittingly blown away, taken to the four corners of the earth by the all-powerful North Wind, and cannot be returned. In exchange, a magic tablecloth, magic donkey, and magic stick are three marvelous gifts offered by the Wind. But in the end, the most important gift of all is surely the North Wind's sage advice: 'All you have to do is keep your eyes & ears open.' As in the best of traditional folktales, there is the timeless appeal of thought provoking themes. Here, justice & fairness are of universal concern to young children. And they will enjoy their favorite storytelling elements: patterns and repetition, personification, and especially, the wondrous and curious ways of 'long ago & far away.'
$351- $500

The Tale of Tristan & Iseult: An Arthurian Legend Literature- Other,
Music,
Performing Arts- Storytelling

This most famous of all classic love stories was originally set in Celtic antiquity, and an important component of the Arthurian legends. In the 12th century, the tale was already 600 years old when it captured the imagination of Medieval France’s famous storyteller-poet-musicians, the troubadours. The powerful story continued its long journey through the ages... inspiring many works in turn, including Shakespeare (Romeo & Juliet). Bells & Motley present a telling that is authentic, yet lively, accessible, highly charged, and mysterious - full of all of the original symbolism, intrigue, and purpose. In ancient bardic style, it features a simple setting, rich language, and complex emotions evoked through the power of music. Rare historic instruments include the Medieval keyed fiddle, low-voiced recorders, ancient gut-strung bray harp, and Celtic harp. Musical selections include the same historic pieces that were part of Medieval tellings, as inspired by this enduring tale.
$351- $500

Dreaming, Digging In, and Doing: 'THE ANT & THE GRASSHOPPER, AESOP'S FABLED FIDDLER' - SUMMER READING PROGRAM 2013 Music,
Performing Arts- Storytelling,
Performing Arts- Dance

Bells & Motley's musical storytelling performance is a Greek classic concerning the value of Dreaming, Digging In, and Doing! We all understand how our lives' pressing labors hang in a balance with the wonders of artistry and expression, through colors and sounds and dances. In our telling, we are confident that all will appreciate the carefully drawn moral concerning the value of both work & play. As we weave the tale through Ant and Grasshopper’s year in four episodes, each scene begins with the appropriate movement of Vivaldi's 'Four Seasons' evocatively performed by the artists on harp, nyckelharpa, tromba marina, and winds. The action and mystique of the tale are further highlighted by the audiences’ contributions on medieval fiddles (researched and built by the artists themselves), percussion, and dancing. At the end of our maiden performance of this show, a young fellow excitedly asked: 'Where will we all be performing this next?' Exploratory Expressions by audience+artists, before the performance: -The Grasshopper's Fiddling Troupe - The Ant's Percussion Troupe - The Butterfly Dancers And now, Dear Audience, Places!! Let the story begin as together we play and sing the 15th c. song of 'El Grillo' the Cricket!
$351- $500

Dig that Canal! ‘15 Miles on the Erie Canal' Family Fun Folk Operetta; With free companion options - Folk Instruments of Many Cultures Along the Canal; Intro to Theatercraft History,
Music,
Performing Arts- Storytelling

'15 Miles on the Erie Canal' is a colorful and very participatory historic musical storytelling event for the whole family. Enjoy this lively collage of Tall Tales, Costumes, Music and Sing-along Songs as the artists share an unforgettable story of New York’s famous waterway. Presented in 19th century 'folk opera' performance style, it sparkles with canal-era music from cultures along the canal, performed on a rare collection of historic instruments including hammer dulcimer, banjo, fiddle, hurdy gurdy, early squeezeboxes, canal horn, and more. Our story unfolds as Captain Simon Slick and Irish cook Sallie Waters meet up with Sal, a truly amazing mule who makes quite a splash (and also happens to be guest from the audience!). Together they set off on a rollicking journey down The Grand E-ri-e Canal, 8th Wonder of the World! Great characters, great stories, and an unforgettable historic enrichment experience for Summer Reading Programs! NOTE: For a gala event, our “15 Miles” performance may be expanded with your choice of NYS Canal Cultural Heritage workshop activities: expanded singing roles for a children’s/family chorus; lively canal-era folk dancing; and even student-written Tall Tale vignettes for the Grand Finale. Custom-designed programs, special events welcome.
$351- $500

Page: 1 2 3 Next >

Records 1-10 of 27

* Inclusion in this database does not indicate endorsement of any performer or program by the NYS Education Department, the Office of Cultural Education, the NYS Library or the participating library systems, nor does it eliminate the need for reference checks and appropriate standard screening procedures.

Program	Category	Description	Fee
Musical Traditions of Ireland & Other Celtic Lands	History, Music, Performing Arts- Dance	The Bromkas have been performing concerts of traditional Celtic music as a duo for the past 20 years, gathering a rich and varied repertoire, and acquainting eager audiences with the traditions and mysteries found within that heritage. For the Celts, music and mythology are closely intertwined, with potent images evoked on the traditional instruments including fiddle, harp, hammered dulcimer, squeezeboxes, pennywhistle, bodhran (Irish frame drum.) Of special interest are John’s collection of different bagpipes, representing several Celtic traditions. To complement the Irish, the artists share favorite music within the Welsh, Manx, Breton, Scottish, and Galician Celtic traditions.	$351- $500
Historic Music and Dance Celebrations of Many Cultures	History, Music, Performing Arts- Dance	Bells & Motley's International Instruments, with International Folk Dances for Families; Special topics include Celebrating NYS Heritage with Dutch Music and French Cultural Heritage Concerts, Performances, Celebrations See www.bellsandmotley.com website for detailed information, photos, and much more.	$351- $500
Dig Into China! 'BAWSHOU & the DRAGON' Traditional Chinese Folk Pageant for SUMMER READING PROGRAM 2013	Multicultural- Other, Music, Performing Arts- Storytelling	Dig deep into a cave of the earth--the Sun has been captured by a Fearsome Dragon and hidden away. The hero of our tale is Bawshou, a young man who courageously rises to the challenge of freeing the Sun. With the help of a golden phoenix, a small parcel of earth, a magic robe, and a heroic dream, Bawshou travels afar to seek out and rescue the Sun, for the good of his people and all the land. Children actively participate as they portray the flowing river, the sounds of the sea, the playing of the gong, the dancing stars, and much much more! The artists evoke a magical atmosphere in this important Chinese tale, employing authentic oriental techniques and traditions including stylized dramatic forms and movement, mythology, exotic costumes, and music. Chinese folk instruments (erhu, p’i p’a, guzheng harp, sona, Chinese Theatre drum, flutes & whistles, and gong) are featured, combining to make this unforgettable performance piece a joyous celebration of oriental culture. 'Bawshou' was commissioned by the Springfield MA Museum of Fine Arts in 1994. (see accompanying Chinese Dragon Mask Workshop/Parade).	$351- $500
'The Tale of Yanek & Heliotrope' - A Medieval Music & Storytelling Journey	History, Music, Performing Arts- Theater	Audiences are instantly engaged when a Medieval merchant's cart overflowing with mysterious and intriguing musical instruments arrives. Master Craftsman Yanek is en route to the greatest trading faire in all of France. His path crosses that of Lady Heliotrope, an exuberant troubaritz (female troubadour) in search of poetic inspiration. From here the fairytale spins as their tales entwine in this authentic period storytelling production that will absolutely delight audiences of all ages. Sondra and John Bromka infuse the performance with historic music on a great variety of unusual medieval instruments-many actually built by John, an accomplished luthier in real life. An authentic and appealing program!	$351- $500
Bells & Motley Community Residencies & Revelry- Faires, Festivals, and Celebrations	History, Performing Arts- Theater, Visual Arts- Crafts	Topics include: -Community Heritage Bicentennial and Sesquicentennial Celebrations -Labyrinth Building -Musical Instrument Building -Christmas Pageants -Playwriting & Performance on Historic themes -Renaissance Faires & Festivals -and Much more! One-of-a-kind projects enthusiastically welcome! This year, we are especially welcoming water-related themes. Got a River?	$501- $1000
'THE HURDY GURDY CHILDREN'S CONCERT: INSTRUMENTS TO TREASURE' Summer Reading Program 2-for-1 Special	History, Music, Performing Arts- Storytelling	The artists' extensive early instrument collection features a joyous diversity of historic Medieval, Renaissance, & traditional instruments. Playing upon the intriguing and rare historic hurdy gurdy to enrich our theme and setting, we are pleased to accompany our performance journey with an early music mini-concert specially designed for children, highlighting a diverse collection of early instruments of all shapes, sizes, and materials. Imaginations are courted with the mysterious and evocative sounds. As you enjoy this exploration of historic instruments from bagpipes to 'whittle and dub' you will marvel at the wonderful ways human kind has used wood, animal horn, reed, leather, and ingenuity to invent instruments that create a rainbow of musical sounds. This program is being packaged as a 2-for-1 with 'STONE SOUP: DOUBLE TREASURE' These two complementary programs unite perfectly to appeal to all the senses, a memorable and meaningful TREASURE for the eyes, ears, and imagination!	$351- $500
The Boy Who Went to Visit the North Wind Participatory Storytelling + Children's Concert	History, Music, Performing Arts- Storytelling	Sondra and John Bromka bring audiences on a wind-swept journey to 'long ago and far away' with the telling of this fine traditional tale. Look forward to an energetic tandem storytelling performance that is underscored with live music on Celtic harp, enriched with historic authenticity, and alive with abundant participation that is well suited to audiences of all ages. A is a tale of wonder and magic, the story unfolds when a poor boy's meal is unwittingly blown away, taken to the four corners of the earth by the all-powerful North Wind, and cannot be returned. In exchange, a magic tablecloth, magic donkey, and magic stick are three marvelous gifts offered by the Wind. But in the end, the most important gift of all is surely the North Wind's sage advice: 'All you have to do is keep your eyes & ears open.' As in the best of traditional folktales, there is the timeless appeal of thought provoking themes. Here, justice & fairness are of universal concern to young children. And they will enjoy their favorite storytelling elements: patterns and repetition, personification, and especially, the wondrous and curious ways of 'long ago & far away.'	$351- $500
The Tale of Tristan & Iseult: An Arthurian Legend	Literature- Other, Music, Performing Arts- Storytelling	This most famous of all classic love stories was originally set in Celtic antiquity, and an important component of the Arthurian legends. In the 12th century, the tale was already 600 years old when it captured the imagination of Medieval France’s famous storyteller-poet-musicians, the troubadours. The powerful story continued its long journey through the ages... inspiring many works in turn, including Shakespeare (Romeo & Juliet). Bells & Motley present a telling that is authentic, yet lively, accessible, highly charged, and mysterious - full of all of the original symbolism, intrigue, and purpose. In ancient bardic style, it features a simple setting, rich language, and complex emotions evoked through the power of music. Rare historic instruments include the Medieval keyed fiddle, low-voiced recorders, ancient gut-strung bray harp, and Celtic harp. Musical selections include the same historic pieces that were part of Medieval tellings, as inspired by this enduring tale.	$351- $500
Dreaming, Digging In, and Doing: 'THE ANT & THE GRASSHOPPER, AESOP'S FABLED FIDDLER' - SUMMER READING PROGRAM 2013	Music, Performing Arts- Storytelling, Performing Arts- Dance	Bells & Motley's musical storytelling performance is a Greek classic concerning the value of Dreaming, Digging In, and Doing! We all understand how our lives' pressing labors hang in a balance with the wonders of artistry and expression, through colors and sounds and dances. In our telling, we are confident that all will appreciate the carefully drawn moral concerning the value of both work & play. As we weave the tale through Ant and Grasshopper’s year in four episodes, each scene begins with the appropriate movement of Vivaldi's 'Four Seasons' evocatively performed by the artists on harp, nyckelharpa, tromba marina, and winds. The action and mystique of the tale are further highlighted by the audiences’ contributions on medieval fiddles (researched and built by the artists themselves), percussion, and dancing. At the end of our maiden performance of this show, a young fellow excitedly asked: 'Where will we all be performing this next?' Exploratory Expressions by audience+artists, before the performance: -The Grasshopper's Fiddling Troupe - The Ant's Percussion Troupe - The Butterfly Dancers And now, Dear Audience, Places!! Let the story begin as together we play and sing the 15th c. song of 'El Grillo' the Cricket!	$351- $500
Dig that Canal! ‘15 Miles on the Erie Canal' Family Fun Folk Operetta; With free companion options - Folk Instruments of Many Cultures Along the Canal; Intro to Theatercraft	History, Music, Performing Arts- Storytelling	'15 Miles on the Erie Canal' is a colorful and very participatory historic musical storytelling event for the whole family. Enjoy this lively collage of Tall Tales, Costumes, Music and Sing-along Songs as the artists share an unforgettable story of New York’s famous waterway. Presented in 19th century 'folk opera' performance style, it sparkles with canal-era music from cultures along the canal, performed on a rare collection of historic instruments including hammer dulcimer, banjo, fiddle, hurdy gurdy, early squeezeboxes, canal horn, and more. Our story unfolds as Captain Simon Slick and Irish cook Sallie Waters meet up with Sal, a truly amazing mule who makes quite a splash (and also happens to be guest from the audience!). Together they set off on a rollicking journey down The Grand E-ri-e Canal, 8th Wonder of the World! Great characters, great stories, and an unforgettable historic enrichment experience for Summer Reading Programs! NOTE: For a gala event, our “15 Miles” performance may be expanded with your choice of NYS Canal Cultural Heritage workshop activities: expanded singing roles for a children’s/family chorus; lively canal-era folk dancing; and even student-written Tall Tale vignettes for the Grand Finale. Custom-designed programs, special events welcome.	$351- $500