Category Archives: Performances and Events
“Why Amy Beach Matters” – A Look Back and Ahead to the Lecture of Dr. Liane Curtis!
WHY AMY BEACH MATTERS: A presentation by Dr. Liane Curtis (Ph.D., Musicology) and performance of two works composed by Beach taking place 3 times on March 22, 23 and 25, 2018
Enjoy an evening concert by the Orchestra of Indian Hill entitled “Sounds and Sweet Airs: Celebrating Women Composers,” which will include Amy Beach’s Bal Masqué for Orchestra, Op. 22 and other works by women!
Enjoy listening to Amy Beach’s Piano Quintet in F-sharp minor, Op. 67 as well as works by the Boulanger sisters and more performed by members of The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra!
London-based Marsyas Trio is Fundraising for Video Recording of Amy Beach’s “Pastorale & Caprice (The Water Sprites)” for Flute, Violoncello and Piano!
The London-based Marsyas Trio will be recording a CD “Gates of the Soul,” which will be released with NMC Recordings (one of the leading British labels) in October, to celebrate the centenary of women’s suffrage in the UK. The disc will feature music by six living British women composers, including Judith Weir who is our first ever female Master of the Queen’s Music, and two composers who have spent their lives living in the USA: Hilary Tann and Thea Musgrave.
In conjunction with this upcoming CD recording project is the “Stretch Goal” video recording project of AMY BEACH’s “Pastorale & Caprice (The Water Sprites)” for flute, cello and piano, which were written in 1921, a year after American suffrage was obtained, and so connect with the theme of their CD rather nicely! They have a fundraising campaign to record these two works by Beach, and the URL is www.marsyastrio.com/kickstarter. They’ll be setting visuals made from shadow puppetry to the video, to accompany the music, and this will all be freely available on YouTube or similar. Please consider providing financial support for their project! Their fundraiser runs until March 15.
In the words of the Marsyas Trio cellist Dr. Val Welbanks:
“Women of my generation and younger take our rights for granted and we know very little about how difficult things were before us. So if people can give a little money towards our project that’s great (!) but mainly we’re using this as a way to contribute to the year’s celebration of the strong and creative women before us, and around us, and to participate in the discussion on how we can take the next steps towards equality. And of course this will also be our contribution towards celebrating (albeit a little late) Amy Beach’s 150th anniversary!”
Enjoy an evening featuring the life and music of Amy Beach presented and performed by pianist Lillie Gardner!
Enjoy an evening featuring the life and music of Amy Beach presented and performed by pianist Lillie Gardner!
Celebrate Women’s History Month with Amy Beach’s “Gaelic” Symphony Performed by The Lower Merion Symphony!
Celebrate Women’s History Month with Amy Beach’s “Gaelic” Symphony, the first symphony composed and published by an American woman! The Lower Merion Symphony will be performing from the revised edition of Beach’s Symphony available from Women’s Philharmonic Advocacy Publications!
Reminder of Upcoming Beach “Gaelic” Symphony Performance by the Albany Symphony Orchestra in Georgia on Feb. 17!
Reminder about the upcoming orchestral concert featuring Amy Beach‘s monumental “Gaelic” Symphony in E minor, Op. 32. The Albany Symphony Orchestra in Georgia will be performing from the revised edition available from from Women’s Philharmonic Advocacy Publications!
An upcoming masterclass and concert will feature soprano Claudia Patacca and pianist Marien van Nieukerken at the Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt in Weimar and will include songs by Rebecca Clarke, Amy Beach and others!
Amy Beach’s Piano Quintet in F-sharp minor, Op. 67 Will Be Performed at the New England Conservatory on February 11!
Enjoy hearing Amy Beach’s Piano Quintet in F-sharp minor, Op. 67 at the Music for Food concert featuring pianist Damien Francour-Kryzek on Sunday, February 11 at New England Conservatory. The musicians play for free and all donations will go to the Women’s Lunch Place. On top of that, all donations will be matched!
Dreams of Romance: Music of Amy Beach Featuring Piano and Chamber Music in Saint Paul, Minnesota!
Enjoy piano and chamber music by Amy Beach in Saint Paul, Minnesota on Feb. 11! The performers Lillie Gardner (piano) with Hannah Schendel (violin) will perform the following:
BERCEUSE for violin and piano, op. 40
HERMIT THRUSH, op. 92
LES RÊVES DES COLUMBINE, op. 65
NOCTURNE, op. 107
ROMANCE for violin and piano, op. 23
The event is free admission and will take place on Feb. 11 at 3:30 p.m. at the Thelma Hunter Recital Room, Landmark Center, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Amy Beach’s “Gaelic” Symphony Will Be Performed by Albany Symphony Orchestra of Georgia!
Enjoy an upcoming performance of Amy Beach’s monumental “Gaelic” Symphony performed by the Albany Symphony Orchestra of Georgia and using the revised edition by Women’s Philharmonic Advocacy! Visit our Amy Beach Facebook page to check-out the video below for details!
As Part of the Nobel Prize Award Ceremony, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra Performed Amy Beach’s “Gaelic” Symphony – II. Alla Siciliana!
The Nobel Prize Award Ceremony took place this morning in Stockholm, Sweden, and for one of the musical interludes, Amy Beach’s “Gaelic” Symphony – II. Alla Siciliana was performed by the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra using the revised edition by Women’s Philharmonic Advocacy‘s Director of Publications and Amy Beach Project Editor-in-Chief, Chris A. Trotman!
Please enjoy listening to the gorgeous Beach Symphony movement as part of the Nobel Prize Award Ceremony (the YouTube video should begin just as the RSPO begins playing the Beach, but if not, it begins at 16:14) – https://youtu.be/cNWwGQAKidA?t=974
Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra Will Perform II. Alla Siciliana from Beach’s “Gaelic” Symphony for Nobel Prize Awards Ceremony!
We are ecstatic that the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of Joana Carneiro, will be performing the II. Alla Siciliana movement of Amy Beach’s “Gaelic” Symphony in E minor, Op. 32 (Women’s Philharmonic Advocacy Publications’ revised edition) for the Nobel Prize Awards Ceremony!!!
The Ceremony will take place on Sunday, Dec. 10 at 4:30 P.M. Central European Time (CET) or 10:30 A.M. EST and will be streamed live on the Nobel website – https://www.nobelprize.org/. The various events will be televised on a number of different channels around the world as well.
Please note that the Awards Ceremony is not the same as the Nobel Prize Concert on Dec. 8 that will feature guest conductor Gustavo Dudamel leading the Stockholm Philharmonic in performing Mozart’s Symphony No. 41 “Jupiter” and Richard Strauss’ “Also sprach Zarathustra.” The Nobel Prize Awards Ceremony is where the laureates receive the Nobel Medal and Diploma from King Carl XVI Gustaf.
For more information about the Nobel Prize events in both Stockholm, Sweden and Olso, Norway, please click here. And for more information on the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, please click here.
The Beach Sesquicentennial Continues! Looking Behind and Looking Ahead – a Review of Beach’s Opera Cabildo and a Preview of Tonight’s Concert Featuring Beach’s Mass in E-flat, Both by Renowned Musicologist Dr. Liane Curtis for the Boston Music Intelligencer!
Tonight’s performance of Beach’s Mass will be by the Commonwealth Chorale, and the New England Philharmonic orchestra at at 8pm at Church of the Holy Name (1689 Centre Street, West Roxbury, MA). To read more about this event and hear about the inception of this performance and the new, revised edition of Beach’s Mass, check out Dr. Curtis’ preview.
The performances of Beach’s opera Cabildo marked the first performances of this lovely work since its revival 22 years ago in 1995 for the commercial recording. The performance also included a number of Beach’s songs. Enjoy reading about the event as reviewed by Dr. Curtis.
Here is the booklet from the premiere of Beach’s Mass in E-flat by the Handel and Haydn Society back during their 1892-93 season. This marked the first time a work by a woman was performed by the Society!
Lecture and Two Concerts at University of Maryland, Baltimore County Featuring Amy Beach’s Romance for Violin, Harp and Strings, Op. 23 & Piano Trio, Op. 150!
Join us at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County for two wonderful events featuring music by Amy Beach! The concert on Friday, Nov. 17 will be preceded by a lecture by Dr. Liane Curtis! Also, the symphony concert on Sunday, Nov. 19 will include Amy Beach’s Romance transcribed for Solo Violin, Harp and Strings by Chris A. Trotman, Director of Publications for Women’s Philharmonic Advocacy! Both Liane Curtis and Chris A. Trotman will be in attendance for the Friday concert, and Mr. Trotman will be at the Symphony concert.
These events are free, but tickets are required so get them quickly if you wish to attend!
Amy Beach’s Piano Quintet in f-sharp minor, Op. 67 to be Performed by Lavazzo Chamber Ensemble!
Another wonderful opportunity to hear Amy Beach’s Piano Quintet in f-sharp minor, Op. 67, which is being performed by Lavazza Chamber Ensemble on Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017 at 7:30 PM at St. Paul’s Church (15 St. Paul Street, Brookline Village, MA). Free admission!
Also on the program is Maurice Ravel’s String Quartet in F Major. Musicians include Kristina Nilsson and Paula Oakes (Violins), Emily Rome (Guest Violist), Jan Pfeiffer-Rios (Cello) with James Chubet (Guest Pianist).
For more information, please visit their website.
Two Upcoming Opportunities to Hear Amy Beach’s Monumental Grand Mass in E-flat!
(1) On Nov. 11 at 8 P.M. the Commonwealth Chorale & the New England Philharmonic will present their program entitled REBIRTH OF AN AMERICAN CLASSIC. The concert and concert talk will feature Beach’s Mass in E-flat and will take place at Church of the Holy Name (1689 Centre Street, West Roxbury, MA). For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit their website.
(2) On Nov. 12 at 7 P.M. the The Croton Chorale and Orchestra will be performing the Grand Mass in E-flat in New York City at Cardozo Law School (55 Fifth Avenue, at 12th Street, in Manhattan.) Admission is $20 ($10 for seniors and students). For more information, please visit their website.
Amy Beach’s Opera “Cabildo” is Being Performed Twice at UNH in Durham, NH!
In Durham, NH, Nov. 3 AND 4, Amy Beach’s Opera “Cabildo” is being performed in an opera workshop at the University of New Hampshire. Also on the program are a selection of Beach’s lovely songs. For more information, please click here.
Check Out Our New Page Dedicated to the University of New Hampshire Amy Beach Exhibit!
The page includes a couple panoramic pics, several close-up pics and the 18 panels created specifically for the exhibit by Dale Valena, UNH University Museum Curator! Check it out here!
The Beach “Gaelic” Symphony Performance by Symphony NH Reviewed by Dr. Liane Curtis!
The “Gaelic” Symphony in E minor, Op. 32 by great American composer Amy Beach is receiving greater attention this year and the beginning of next due to it being the 150th anniversary of her birth. The major symphony orchestra in her home state of New Hampshire, Symphony NH, is performing the monumental symphony on three separate occasions. Symphony NH’s opening performance was on Friday in Concord, NH and the second in Nashau on Saturday. The final performance is tonight in Durham at the University of New Hampshire.
The opening concert in Concord was reviewed by Dr. Liane Curtis for the Boston Music Intelligencer, and you may read it here!
Five upcoming opportunities in October to hear Amy Beach’s monumental “Gaelic” Symphony in E minor, Op. 32
Five upcoming opportunities in October to hear Amy Beach’s monumental “Gaelic” Symphony in E minor, Op. 32 – 3 performances in New Hampshire, and a single performance in both San Francisco, California and Dayton, Ohio! (All of these orchestras will be using the revised edition of Beach’s Symphony available from Women’s Philharmonic Advocacy Publications – https://www.wophil.org/publications/.)
Symphony NH – the concerts entitled “Dvořák New World” will include Beach’s “Gaelic” Symphony, Beethoven’s “Coriolan Overture” and Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 “From the New World.” The performances will take place at the following times and places:
- Friday, October 6, 2017 at 8:00pm at the Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince Street Concord, NH 03301)
- Saturday, October 7, 2017 at 8:00pm at the Keefe Center for the Arts (117 Elm Street Nashua, NH, 03060)
- Tuesday, October 10, 2017 at 7:00pm at the Paul Creative Arts Center, University of New Hampshire (30 Academic Way Durham, NH, 03824)
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit their website – https://www.symphonynh.org/events/.
Bay Area Rainbow Symphony (BARS) – the concert will include the Beach “Gaelic” Symphony, Brahms’ “Academic Festival Overture,” Barber’s (part of the BARS LGBTQ Composer & Performing Artist series) “Knoxville: Summer of 1915,” and Floyd’s “Ain’t it a pretty night” from Susannah (Julie Adams, soprano). The performance will take place on October 14, 2017 at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (50 Oak Street, San Francisco, CA 94102). For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit their website – http://bars-sf.tix.com/Event.aspx?EventCode=1011145.
Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra of Dayton, Ohio – the concert entitled “An American Experience” will include Beach’s “Gaelic” Symphony, Charles Ives’ “Variations on America” and Leonard Bernstein’s “Symphonic Dances from West Side Story!” The performance will take place on Sunday October 22, 2017 at 3 pm at the Kettering Seventh Day Adventist Church (3939 Stonebridge Rd., Kettering, OH 45419). For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit their website – http://mvso.org/concerts/American_Experience/.
A Look Back at the Amy Beach/Teresa Carreño Music Conference Hosted by the University of New Hampshire!
The Amy Beach/Teresa Carreño conference, hosted by the University of New Hampshire special collections and music department, was a wonderfully informative and entertaining event! Now just a little over a week since the conference took place in Durham, New Hampshire, let’s take a look back at the various events and exhibits in greater detail!
Special thanks to Timothy Diovanni, clarinetist and musicology student at Columbia University, for documenting the events, capturing images of some highlighted events and exhibits and providing his own insight into the occasion! His blog post for Women’s Philharmonic Advocacy may be viewed here.
The Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms Society Orchestra of Boston, Directed by Steven Lipsitt, Will Be Performing a Chamber Orchestra Arrangement of Amy Beach’s Bal Masqué, Op. 22 and Other Works!
The Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms Society Orchestra of Boston, under the direction of Steven Lipsitt (pictured below), will be performing a chamber orchestra arrangement of Amy Beach’s Bal Masqué, Op. 22 along with Bernstein’s Music from West Side Story (VOICES Boston), Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto (In Mo Yang) and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1! (Bal Masqué for Chamber Orchestra is available from Women’s Philharmonic Advocacy Publications – https://www.amybeach.org/music/publications/).
The concert will take place on September 24 at 3 pm at Faneuil Hall, 1 Faneuil Hall Sq, Boston, MA 02109. For information and to purchase tickets, please visit their website.
Tribute to Amy Beach on All Classical Portland Will Feature Discussion with Dr. Liane Curtis!
Enjoy listening to a tribute to Amy Beach today within the 6 PM PT (or 9 PM EST) hour! The segment, led by All-Classical Host Christa Wessel, will be broadcast by All Classical Portland (Oregon), and will feature a discussion of Amy Beach with renowned musicologist and founder/president of Women’s Philharmonic Advocacy, Dr. Liane Curtis!
The segment will be broadcast LIVE Web Stream here. The archived recording will be available on their website for a couple weeks here. It will also should be available here.
HAPPY AMY BEACH DAY!!
The mayor of the city of Boston declared today, September 5th, as Amy Beach Day! Read the entire proclamation below!
“I, Martin J. Walsh (Marty Walsh), Mayor of Boston, do hereby declare September 5, 2017 to be: Amy Beach Day in the City of Boston. I urge all my fellow Bostonians to join me in recognizing and honoring Amy Beach as one of the most successful American composers.” — with Keith Lockhart.
HAPPY 150th BIRTHDAY, AMY BEACH!!
As this year marks Amy Beach’s 150th birthday, much is being done in celebration about this remarkable woman’s life and work! Numerous orchestras, choral ensembles, chamber ensembles and soloists around the world have performed or will be performing works by the pioneering American composer/pianist this year and next in celebration. There are new recordings available this year featuring her works and new scholarship has and will be written about her. Additionally, new musical editions, both revised and published for the first time, are available by a variety of publishers, such as Women’s Philharmonic Advocacy Publications!
Here are a few highlights of what is happening for her birthday celebration –
1) The City of Boston will be declaring September 5th as Amy Beach Day! (a separate post will be made with more information!)
2) The upcoming Amy Beach/Teresa Carreño Conference at University of New Hampshire on Sept. 15 & 16
3) An article entitled “Amy Beach, a Pioneering American Composer, Turns 150” by musicologist William Robin featured in the NYTimes!
4) An article entitled “Amy Beach First Female Composer to Have Her Music Played by a Major Orchestra” by Troy Lennon, Classmate and History Editor of The Daily Telegraph in New South Wales, Australia!
5) A number of orchestras have and will be performing Beach’s monumental “Gaelic” Symphony in E minor, Op. 32 Bal Masqué, Op. 22, and others (some using Women’s Philharmonic Advocacy Publications’ revised editions) as well as choral ensembles performing her Grand Mass in E-flat, Op. 5! (Keep watching our news feed as we post about upcoming concerts!)
New Article Entitled “Amy Beach, a Pioneering American Composer, Turns 150” by Musicologist William Robin Featured in the NYTimes!!
As this year marks Amy Beach’s 150th birthday, much is being done in celebration about this remarkable woman’s life and work! Among the many events, recordings and scholarship concerning her life and work is an article entitled “Amy Beach, a Pioneering American Composer, Turns 150” by musicologist William Robin featured in the NYTimes!!
Recently joining the musicology faculty of University of Maryland in 2016, Will Robin has written an incredible article about the profoundly successful composer/pianist! The article also includes quotes by many of Beach’s contemporaries as well as comments from our founder and president, Dr. Liane Curtis!
You may read the article here.
Three Upcoming Concerts Featuring Amy Beach’s Monumental Piano Quintet in F-sharp Minor, Op. 67 and More!
(1) Tuesday, Sept. 5 at 12:30 PM – Noontime Concert (San Francisco’s Musical Lunch Break) will include Beach’s Romance for Violin and Piano, Op. 23, A Hermit Thrush at Eve for Piano Solo, Op. 92, No. 1 and her Piano Quintet in F-sharp minor, Op. 67! The performers are Carl Blake (piano), Dan Flanagan (violin), Karen Shinozaki (violin), Paul Ehrlich (viola) and Vicky Ehrlich (cello).
The event will take place at Old St. Mary’s Cathedral, 660 California Street. For more information, click here.
(2) Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, 8 PM and Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, 4 PM – “Concert 1: Appalachian Spring: Creating an American Sound” – The Chameleon Arts Ensemble will be performing Beach’s Piano Quintet in F-sharp minor, Op. 67 as well as works by Ives, Copland and others.
These events will both take place at First Church in Boston, 66 Marlborough Street. For more information, click here.
