Fall 2022

The Fall semester will witness the expansion of the Center’s research focus to the pianola and the reproducing piano, expressive historical instruments in their own right that enable different forms of real-time dialogue between the past and the present, the human and the mechanical. In October, we welcome concert-pianolist, scholar, and collector Rex Lawson and reproducing piano expert Denis Hall to share their knowledge of these technological marvels.

Before then, our semester opens with an exploration of “Lisette quitté la plaine,” an enduringly popular song from guest artist J. B. Cerin’s native Haiti, alongside other music of the African diaspora.

As in past seasons, these events will be complemented by programs on a variety of themes inspired by our beloved organs in Ithaca and historical pianos from Cornell’s extraordinary collection. The semester is divided into three parts: The Salon Project, Evening Organ Recitals, and Midday Music for Organ.

Forthcoming!

Co-sponsored by the Society for the Humanities, The Salon Project brings together music, instruments, research, and conversation in a compact, hour-length format at the historic A. D. White House on select Fridays at 5pm.

September 2: Jean Bernard Cerin and Nicholas Mathew, "Lisette––A Song's Journey from Haiti and Back."

September 9: Mike Cheng-Yu Lee, Ji-Young Kim, and Sofia Scattarreggia, "Joseph Haydn, Anne Hunter, and Therese Jansen: the Composer, the Poet, and the Pianist in the London Salon."

October 28: Mike Cheng-Yu Lee and Ji-Young Kim, "The Young Robert Schumann."

November 18: Roger Moseley and Nathan Mondry, "Conjuring with Mozart: How to Make Something out of Nothing."

December 2: Ryan McCullough and Lucy Fitz Gibbon, "Avec tant d'harmonie: Songs of Fauré, Debussy, and Maddisson."

Evening organ recitals this semester feature guest artists Tim Olsen (University of North Carolina School of the Arts), the renowned organist-improvisor William Porter (Eastman School of Music), and Canadian composer-organist Rachel Laurin on Ithaca’s renowned instruments.

September 30: Guest Artist Recital, Tim Olsen. Sage Chapel.

October 23: Guest Artist Recital, Rachel Laurin, Organ Sonata No. 2, "St. Luke" (World Premiere). St. Luke Lutheran Church. Canceled.

November 4: Guest Artist Recital, William Porter. Anabel Taylor Chapel.

December 9: Anna Steppler, "Winter Light." Anabel Taylor Chapel.

Midday Music for Organ offers informal 40-minute programs on alternate Wednesdays at 12:30pm, giving busy Cornellians and guests musical respite at the center of the week. Events take place across campus and in local churches.

August 31: Nathan Mondry, "From Frescobaldi to Froberger." Sage Chapel.

September 14: Nathan Mondry, "Bach Chorale Preludes." Sage Chapel.

September 28: Anna Steppler, "Magnificat." Anabel Taylor Chapel.

October 12: Anna Steppler, "London: A Musical Portrait." Sage Chapel.

October 26: Jeff Snedeker, "Gustav Holst's The Planets." Sage Chapel.

November 2: Guest Artist-Scholar, Rex Lawson, discussing organ music captured for replay on the player piano. Anabel Taylor Chapel.

November 9: Nathan Mondry, "The English-German Pipeline." Anabel Taylor Chapel.

November 30. Anna Steppler, "Advent and Christmas with Bach." Anabel Taylor Chapel.