• Session 1 (September 21) - Muhammad's historical and cultural milieu and the birth of a new religion.
• Session 2 (September 28) - The Golden Age of Islam.
• Session 3 (October 5) - Islam in the modern world.

Popular speaker Jason Giannetti returns to Carlisle for a three-part series on the history and context of Islam, from its origins to the modern world. This course will focus upon the principles underlying the Muslim faith. We will examine the historical and cultural precursors of Islam, the vision of its prophet, Muhammad, the rise of Islam to its Golden Age, and its place in the world today. We will also discuss comparative philosophical and theological approaches between the three Abrahamic religions - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam - as well as the social and political interactions these three great world religions have had in the past and the way this history has shaped the current geopolitical situation.

Professor Jason Giannetti received his B.A. degree from Binghamton University, a Master's of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School, and a Master's of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies from Brandeis University. He has a Juris Doctor degree from Boston College Law School. He has over 20 years of teaching experience in religious studies and philosophy.

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From Russia with Love to Viva La France! Music educator Richard Travers returns to Carlisle this fall with a lively series of music history presentations. Talks will take place on Wednesday's at 1:30 p.m., October 19, 26, and November 2 at the Gleason Library third floor Hollis Room. (Snow date November 9 if needed.) Sponsored by the Friends of the Council on Aging Rose Pullar Fund and the Friends of the Gleason Public Library. Richard Travers appears in partnership with Sage Educational Services.

• From Russia With Love Part 1 - Oct 19th
  The lecture begins with the history of music in Russia, how the music evolved from the influence of western civilization, the Great Russian Chorus music. Stravinsky, Borodin, Rachmaninoff and many other composers will be discussed as well as performers such as Horowitz and Rostropovich.
  
  
• From Russia With Love Part 2 - Oct 26th
  The influence of ballet (Nureyev, Baryshnikov) and classical music (Shostakovich/Prokofiev) will be presented from the Soviet perspective. The lecture will also look at how composers and performers managed to write and play music under the oppressive Soviet regime. Ballet music will be included as well as Russian Folk songs.
  
  
• Vive La France - Nov 2nd
  The lecture presents some of the most significant French composers and performers from renaissance to modern times. Composers such as Gounod, Berlioz, Ravel, Faure and Offenbach will be discussed as well as singers and performers such as Edith Piaf.
  
  

Music Director and educator Richard Travers earned a master's degree in Choral Conducting from the Boston Conservatory and a degree in Music Education from Berklee College of Music. A recently retired music educator at the Newton Public Schools, he directed four choirs at Newton North H.S., and was Assistant Music Director of the Masterworks Chorale, Choral Director of Fitchburg State College, and Director of the New England Conservatory Youth Chorale. He has been the Music Director of the Newton Community Chorus from 1998 to the present and has completed his tenure as Music Director of the Rosie's Place Jazz Choir working closely with Kip Tiernan founder of Rosie's Place and has taught at several Boston-area colleges and universities.

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In March of 2017, Jane Blair, artist, art educator and owner of ArtMatters returns to Carlisle for an interesting and informative series of lectures. Talks will be on Wednesday afternoons at 1:30 pm at St. Irene's Church, 181 East St. in Carlisle.

• Marc Chagall - March 8th
  Known as the "Poet", he we was one of the most versatile artists of the 20th century. He merged the traditional images of his native Russian, Jewish culture with the modern styles of Cubism and Fauvism. His paintings portray stories and fables, ideals of freedom, dreams of love, nightmares of war, passionate emotions and soul refreshing humor. He never finished a canvas until something in it "surprised" himself.
  
  Join us for a retrospective look at his work, his life, and his unique perspective of the world.
  
  
• Surrealism - March 15th
  What is real? What is a dream, a nightmare, a fantasy? Many artists make visual what many can only imagine. The Surrealists view of the world was sometimes dark, curious and even frightening, exploring the subconscious and the irrational. But also they reveal curiosity, much humor, and the poetic hint of possibility. Touch your inner eye and brave the world of the Surrealists, if you dare.
  
  
• The History of Illusion in Art & MC Escher - March 22nd
  The hand is quicker than the eye. Artists love to fool you with illusion in many ways. Join us for a look at the tricks of the art world from Da Vinci and Anamorphic art to Op art and the Magic Eye. We will take a special look at the work of M.D. Escher, a Dutch graphic artist who was a master of the paradox, the tessellation, the dodecahedron, and grand manipulator of the basic laws of nature in illusion.
  
  
• Snow date - April 5th
  
  
  

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• "Oh, My Aching Back" - March 8th
  Millions of people suffer daily with chronic back and neck pain. The cause of the pain can be from different sources - nerves, muscles, degenerative disc disease, arthritis and other conditions. If you are suffering from back or neck pain or know someone who is, plan to attend a free seminar given by Emerson Hospital on Tuesday, April 11 at 1:30 pm at the Gleason Public Library in Carlisle.
  
  Attendees will explore the latest treatment options with Robert Whitmore, MD, Lahey neurosurgeon and Arthur Lee, DO, interventional physiatrist, both with the Emerson Spine Program. Attendees will discover contemporary techniques including injections and rehabilitative and complementary therapies, which help relieve pain and improve mobility.
  
  Dr. Whitmore is a neurosurgeon who joined Lahey Hospital and Medical System and the Emerson Spine Program at Emerson Hospital in 2013.
  
  Dr. Arthur Lee, DO is Chief of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Director of the Emerson Hospital Spine Program.
  
  Call 978-369-4898 or visit www.gleasonlibrary.org/calendar to reserve your spot. The program is presented by the Carlisle Council on Aging and Gleason Public Library.
  
  
• From Paganini to Penguins: An Emergency Medicine Doctor's Travels with the BSO and Beyond - April 26th
  Dr. Robert Partridge, MD, MPH, FACEP, will speak to his experiences as the travel physician for the Boston Symphony Orchestra and touch on other medical work he has done overseas as an emergency physician. Dr. Partridge will also discuss emergency medicine issues closer to home, including when to visit the Emergency Dept. and what to expect when you get there.
  
  This free talk will be held at the Gleason Public Library Hollis Room on Wednesday, April 26 at 1:30 p.m. Call 978-369-4898 or visit gleasonlibrary.org/calendar to reserve your spot. Presented by Carlisle Council on Aging and Gleason Public Library.
  
  

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Previous Lecture Series

TWELFTH LECTURE SERIES (2015-2016)
ELEVENTH LECTURE SERIES (2014-2015)
TENTH LECTURE SERIES (2013-2014)