Edgar Poe: America's Socrates
On Sunday, July 11, 2021, the Schiller Institute NYC Chorus hosted the third Symposium of the year, this one entitled "The Life of Edgar Poe: America's Socrates".
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Beethoven's Compositional Method: Mankind's Immortal Destiny
On Sunday September 27th, 2020, musician My-Hoa Steger presented the final class in the Summer Lecture Series, on the subject of Beethoven's compositional method.
What sets Mankind apart from all other living species? How do you come to know that something is true? In this presentation, we will explore and investigate Beethoven's demonstration of exactly that which makes Mankind a unique species in the universe --- endowed with a special gift and given the power to find joy in shaping the future.
Kepler's Harmony of the World: A Celestial Chorus
Where does the musical scale come from? Is it merely a human invention? In 1619, the astronomer Johannes Kepler showed in his "The Harmony of the World" that not only are the ratios that form the major and minor scales coherent with the principles of constructive geometry, but they are built into the very stars themselves—that is, the motions of the planets of our solar system, as moved by their choral conductor, our Sun.
Read moreBeethoven, Schiller and the American Spirit
In Class 4 of the Summer Lecture Series, Fred Haight presented the second part of his exciting class, "Beethoven as an American Composer," looking more closely into his relationship to the ideas of "the poet of freedom," Friedrich Schiller.
Read moreReturn to the Verdi Tuning!
Many have asked, "Why does the Schiller Institute Chorus sing at a lower tuning?" On July 9, 2020, Liliana presented Class #3 of the Summer Lecture Series on the "Fight for the Verdi Tuning." Speaking from Milan via Zoom, Liliana described her role in the nearly successful efforts of the 1980s and 1990s to bring the standard pitch back to A=432 Hz or C= 256, and why this had such widespread support among the top musicians of the day.
Read moreShadow vs Substance: The Genius of Wilhelm Furtwängler
On July 26, 2020, Matthew Ogden presented the second in the Summer Lecture Series on the genius of Wilhelm Furtwängler and the agapic nature of classical motivic thorough-composition.
Read moreBeethoven as an American Composer
July 12, 2020 lecture no. 1 in the Schiller Institute NYC Chorus Summer Lecture Series began with the first of a two part presentation on Beethoven as an American Composer by Fred Haight.
Read moreThe Bel Canto Tradition in Russia
Why did Beethoven's monumental work, the Missa Solemnis, Opus 123, premiere in St. Petersburg and not in Vienna?
Read moreWho was Beethoven, really?
Schiller Institute Chorus member Fred Haight has presented a useful 3 part series on Beethoven, shedding some light on one of the most creative and least understood geniuses in history. Stay tuned to this page for future contributions in this Beethoven 250th Year.
Read moreTony Morss: Who Is Friedrich Schiller?
After retiring from a long and distinguished career as a conductor, Anthony Wentworth Morss became an active member of the bass/ baritone section of the Schiller Institute NYC Chorus. During this annual celebration of Friedrich Schiller's birthday, Tony spoke on the life of Schiller.
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