The Keyboard in Washington's America:
Celebrating Mount Vernon's Harpsichord and its Reproduction
August 2-3, 2019
The musical revolution taking place in the late eighteenth century is well known to members of the AMIS. Less well known is the significant role played by George Washington's Mount Vernon. As pianos were becoming the domestic keyboard instrument of choice, Washington purchased a large, state-of-the-art harpsichord. More surprisingly, the instrument arrived years after he traded in Martha's old spinet for a new pianoforte just in time for young Eleanor (Nelly) Parke Custis to begin piano lessons with Alexander Reinagle. Why was a fine harpsichord chosen as Mount Vernon's principal keyboard instrument even after updating to a piano?
Join speakers Michael Cole, Laurence Libin, Geoffrey Lancaster, Joyce Lindorff, Julianne Baird, David Hildebrand, and John Watson as they explore and revive the music of Mount Vernon, and particularly the fascinating voices of its keyboard instruments. Backdrop for the symposium is Nelly's original 1793 two-manual Longman & Broderip harpsichord along with a newly made replica that brings to life a musical voice not heard at the mansion in more than two centuries. With its full complement of expressive resources including Venetian swell, machine, buff and lute stops, and touch-sensitive soft leather plectra, the reproduction promises to show how the late English harpsichord had evolved to serve changing musical tastes of the 1790s. Further context for the harpsichord is provided by a newly restored square piano by Dodds & Claus of New York, standing in for Washington's Dodds piano of 1789.
Full symposium schedule and registration are online at
https://www.mountvernon.org/library/library-events-programs/harpsichord-symposium/
or
https://tinyurl.com/yxn854tc
Feel free to contact me with questions
JOHN R. WATSON j.watson@jrw1.com
Conservator of Early Keyboard Instruments
210 John Pinckney Lane
Williamsburg, VA 23185
http://update.jrw1.com/mv/
AMIS-L is a free Listserv email list service provided by the American Musical Instrument Society (AMIS), the National Music Museum and the University of South Dakota as a service to members of AMIS. Any questions regarding your list membership or technical problems should be addressed to the moderator at:
.