Astoria — Astoria Public Library and Astor Library Friends Association present Library After Hours, a free series of cultural events held at the library after regular hours of operation. The series continues with a holiday concert at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19. Light refreshments will be provided.

This festive event will feature Astoria’s own early music ensemble, the Consort of All Sorts, playing instrumental and vocal music from the 17th and 18th centuries with themes appropriate for the winter holiday season. The centerpiece of the performance will be a suite of noels composed by Michel Richard de Lalande in 17th century France, originally performed in churches to accompany sermons and readings from the Bible.

The program will also feature several unusual carols sung by baritone Drew Herzig accompanied by the Consort. And, true to the group’s name, the Consort of All Sorts will combine these pieces with selected movements from trio sonatas from the Baroque era by Johann Joachim Quantz, Jean Marie Leclair and Johann Sebastian Bach.

Members of the group participating in the concert include Phyllis Taylor on cello, Hannelore Morgan on recorder, Charles Schweigert on Baroque flute, Ray Lund on harpsichord, and Drew Herzig on percussion and vocals.

The name for the group comes from the title of a book by Canadian author and painter, Emily Carr, who wrote a memoir of her life in Victoria, British Columbia, in the early 20th century. “The House of All Sorts” chronicles the daily life at a rooming house Carr ran for “all sorts” of zany characters. In the realm of music, “consort” is a somewhat antiquated term for a group of similar or dissimilar instruments or voices. It is a good match for this group of musicians, and a name that allows for the addition of other instruments as they are needed. It also leaves open the possibility of exploring music from other periods in addition to the Baroque.

Astoria Public Library is located at 450 10th St. For more information, call 503-325-7323, email comments@astorialibrary, or visit www.astorialibrary.org

Library After Hours

6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19

Astoria Public Library

450 10th St., Astoria

503-325-7323

Free