About The Publick Pleasure
The Publick Pleasure evolved as a way to share American history through the lens of America's musical life and to present unique early American concert repertoire in friendly, creative, and approachable concert settings. The Publick Pleasure began with Founder and Artistic Director, Eve Miller's personal research into gigging and concert life in Revolutionary and Federal Era Philadelphia. Eve's discoveries about Philadelphia piqued her interest in early American concert life as a whole.
Over the past three seasons The Publick Pleasure has given performances about Philadelphia's Yellow Fever epidemic of 1793,"Stop the Bells Tolling" Philadelphia Fringe Festival, September 2024; the history of Gloria Dei Old Swedes' Church, "Swedes, Souls and Sailors," January 2025; the effect of refugees from France & St. Domingue on Philadelphia's late 18th century music scene, "Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité" Main Line Early Music Series, November 2024; the music, life, and death of the British spy Major John André, "Sympathy Towards a Soldier," Philadelphia Fringe Festival 2025; and the amazing life of French musician Henri Capron, "A Stranger in the Country," March 2026 among many others.
The Publick Pleasure performs repertoire heard in early American concerts, salons and homes on period instruments. Programs are based on research utilizing contemporary sources such as programs, newspapers, magazines, journals, diaries, financial records, first hand accounts, music publications, and letters. Join The Publick Pleasure for our 2026 - 2027 Season where we'll honor those lost at sea and the sailor cenotaphs of Old Swedes' Church, we'll enjoy the power of Scottish music in Early Philadelphia, we'll explore women performers, publishers and composers in the early US, we'll uncover the musical genius and unfortunate madness of Giovanni Gualdo, and discover some surprising cello repertoire sold to Philadelphians during the 1760's by the first treasurer of the United States.
Press "The Publick Pleasure: Music of 18th c. Philadelphia"
Press "Stop the Bells Tolling"
Press "Sympathy Towards a Soldier"
About
Founder/Artistic Director, Eve Miller
Eve was raised in a home steeped in history and music near the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. She grew up digging minié balls out of the farmers' fields, watching civil war reenactments, singing old songs, and roaming old buildings. Historical performance practice, musicology, and research were the logical conclusions of her upbringing, her personal inclinations, and her training as a classical cellist. The Publick Pleasure is a culmination of all those things and Eve's deep joy in sharing history, the excitement of discovery, and interesting old music. Eve still gets that "history high" when walking old floorboards or handling old documents.
Musical Collaborators
The Publick Pleasure is deeply honored to work with some of the best scholars, researchers, and performers in the fields of historically informed performance practice and musicology. Bespoke ensembles are formed as dictated by the repertoire needs of each concert. Past, and current musical collaborators are featured below.
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