From ads of old, jingles and some laughs

Elaine Schmidt reports, Special to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, March 9, 2008, on last night's performance by Hesperus in the Early Music Now series.

the program was aptly titled "Shameless Commerce." It featured music constructed around "cries," the short musical phrases used by street vendors to hawk goods and services in the crowded streets of 17th- and 18th-century London.

Complementing the "Shameless Commerce" theme, EMN had a fund-raising silent auction during the extended intermission.