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Community Corner

Tom Callinan to Bring the War of 1812 to Life in Song

The Middlesex County
Historical Society is pleased to host the CD-release concert for Middletown native Tom
Callinan’s latest recording entitled “We Owe Allegiance To No Crown” on
Tuesday, April 1, at 7:00 pm in the Hubbard Room at Russell Library. The CD
contains seventeen songs from and about the
War of 1812, along with contemporary compositions (mostly original), based on
facts, legend, and lore and will be available for purchase at the conclusion of
the concert. 



 



Viewed by many as "America's
Second War of Independence," the War of 1812 is often overlooked or
overshadowed by the American Revolution and the Civil War.  But many events of that conflict are burned
into the American consciousness such as the burning of the Capitol and White
House in Washington, D.C. and the failed bombardment by the
British of Fort McHenry that inspired Francis Scott Key to pen the words of the
"The Star-Spangled Banner." A little known fact of the war was that
Federalist opposition to "Mr. Madison's War," particularly in New England, almost caused Northern states to secede from
the union … nearly 40 years before the
Civil War
.

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1814 was the year that most
impacted Connecticut during the War of 1812,
and of the seventeen songs on the CD six relate to people and events in Middlesex County during this bicentennial
year.  In honor of the April 8th
raid and burning of the fleet in Essex, Tom
has penned a trilogy: the lively "Save
The Sloops, Brigs & Schooners
"; the lament "Pine, Oak, & Tar"; and an
attempt to address the many still-unanswered "Burning Questions At Potapaug".  "Enough!"
recounts the valiant resistance of the Clinton
militia, while "Irish Luck &
Pluck
" chronicles the naval journey of Captain Thomas Macdonough, who
chose Middletown
as his adopted home.  The period piece
"The Constitution And The Guerriere"
touts the victory of Captain Isaac Hull, who spent time in Middletown before taking command of "Old
Ironsides".

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A highly regarded folksinger,
songwriter, storyteller, sea-chanteyman, and multi-instrumentalist, Mr.
Callinan is now in his 37th year as a full-time creative and
performing artist.  During that time, he
has cultivated a reputation as a collector and presenter of songs from America's past,
as well as a creator of songs in the styles reminiscent of historical
periods.  In recognition of his talent
and achievements, Tom was named Connecticut’s
first Official State Troubadour.  He and his
wife, Ann Shapiro, founded CRACKERBARREL ENTERTAINMENTS, an agency that
provides enrichment and family programming, primarily in the Eastern
United States.



 



Russell Library, located at 123 Broad Street, Middletown,
is handicap accessible.  This program is
free and open to the public.  For further
information, contact the Historical Society at 860-346-0746.  







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