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Pianist Joe Chapman will perform a program entitled “A Tri-centennial Celebration of the Piano: 1709-2009” on Tuesday, January 27, in the Goodroe Auditorium of Dalton State College. The concert, which begins at 7:00 pm, is free and open to the public.
Chapman, a frequent performer at Dalton State, is the Director of Keyboard Studies at North Georgia College and State University in Dahlonega. He has performed across the United States and in eight foreign countries as a conductor, accompanist, vocalist, and instrumentalist.
The tribute commemorating the 300th anniversary of the piano will feature selections composed by Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, and Liszt, and others.
“At the beginning of the 18th century, the harpsichord was the king of keyboard instruments,” says Chapman. “Then in 1709, an Italian inventor named Bartolomeo Christofori came up with an idea for an upgrade in keyboard technology that would forever change music history.”
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Christofori’s idea was to replace the harpsichord’s plectra (similar to guitar picks) with hammers that were designed to strike the strings directly rather than just plucking the strings, Chapman adds.
“This created an instant capability of producing a wide range of volume, from soft to loud sounds. He named the new instrument the pianoforte, which is Italian for ‘soft-loud.’ The piano slowly gained popularity, and is now the most popular instrument of choice for musicians around the world.”
Chapman’s evening performance will begin with a Bach toccata that was composed in 1709 and was originally intended for the harpsichord, but is now commonly performed on the piano. He will perform other numbers that will reflect the evolution of piano music written by 18th and 19th century composers and will also include pieces composed in the 20th century which feature experimental techniques for the piano.
One work, written by Henry Cowell entitled “The Aeolian Harp,” will require Chapman to take a more direct approach in producing sound by reaching inside the piano to play the strings by hand. The program will conclude with the world premiere tour of a brand-new composition by rising composer Cody Brookshire.
Although reservations are not required, seating is limited, so patrons are advised to arrive early. For more information about the concert, please call 706-272-4469.
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