| |
Dalton State College will host pianist Joe Chapman on Tuesday,
January 27, in a concert that pays tribute to the 300-year history
of the piano.
The 7:00 pm concert, which is free and open to the public, will take
place in the Goodroe Auditorium in Memorial Hall and will be called
“A Tri-centennial Celebration of the Piano: 1709-2009.”
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.
During the concert, Chapman will play selections composed by such
musical greats as 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.”
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.
|
|
