October 29, 2008

Amy Beach, 1934.

Please join us for an enriching discussion and performance of one of New England’s most important and deserving composers, Amy Beach. Born in Henniker in 1867, Amy Beach went on to have an important international career both as a composer and concert pianist. Her evolution as an artist in the Victorian Era is a fascinating study of the interaction between culture and innate musical artistry.

The conference is privileged to feature guest speaker, renowned author and musicologist, Adrienne Fried Block, Amy Beach, Passionate Victorian, and a commentary with open discussion led by Professor Judith Tick, Northeastern University, author of the article on “Women and Music” in the New Grove Dictionary of Music. This special event will be held Saturday, November 15 at 3pm on Level 5 in Dimond Library.

The conference will be followed by a concert of the music of Amy Beach, including over twenty of her songs and her only opera “Cabildo” with original scoring. The concert is presented by the UNH Opera Program in Bratton Recital Hall in the Paul Creative Arts Building. Performances will be held:

• Friday, November 14 at 8pm
• Saturday, November 15 at 7pm
• Sunday, November 16 at 8pm

Dinner is available for those attending the conference on Saturday, November 15.

Because of fire regulations and limited seating in the Bratton Recital Hall, those wishing to attend the concert after the lecture/discussion on Saturday must register with David Ripley by emailing david.ripley@unh.edu. Seating is “first come, first served.”

This event is free and open to the public.