A new ICAMus spring concert program of rare works from Pre-Civil War American Music, 1800-1858, takes place in the beautiful Villa Bardini of Florence, Italy, on April 4, 2017. Works by Edward Riley (1769-1829), Benjamin Carr (1768-1831; in America from 1793), Anthony Philip Heinrich (1781-1861), Stephen Collins Foster (1826-1864). Myung San Ko, soprano; Kyle Sullivan (baritone); Viola Shaula Valerio (flute); Anna Toccafondi (solo piano, piano accompaniment, ensemble direction); a project by Aloma Bardi. This is the first program carried out by ICAMus within the recently-established Affiliation Agreement with the Music Conservatory of Florence.

Romantic American composer ANTHONY PHILIP HEINRICH (1781-1861) has special prominence in this pre-Civil War concert program, 1800-1858.

Heinrich's The Voice of Faithful Love is a beautiful song for voice, flute and piano, published in 1832 and included by the composer in his large compilation of Memoranda known as Scrap Book. Heinrich's Scrap Book is part of the Heinrich Collection at The Library of Congress Music Division.

DIFFERENT AUTHOR'S VERSIONS AND ARRANGEMENTS OF FOSTER'S MELODIES.

Another highlight of the Early American Music program is the variety of arrangements and vocal and instrumental versions of his celebrated tunes composed by STEPHEN COLLINS FOSTER (1826-1864). Foster would keep his melodies alive by re-designing and adapting them to the various occasions for private and social music making in pre-Civil War times. We invite you to visit our Upcoming Events page for the detailed concert program.

THE PERFORMERS AND THE VENUE FOR THE EARLY AMERICAN MUSIC CONCERT

In the first photo, from left to right: VIOLA SHAULA VALERIO (ICAMus research scholar and flutist), ANNA TOCCAFONDI (solo piano, piano accompaniment, ensemble direction, professor of piano accompaniment at Conservatorio di Musica "Luigi Cherubini" di Firenze), KYLE SULLIVAN (baritone, student at Conservatorio di Musica "Luigi Cherubini" di Firenze), AMELIA BURNS (soprano, student at Conservatorio di Musica "Luigi Cherubini" di Firenze). The ensemble is here portrayed during the summer 2016 rehearsals and recording sessions of the Early American Music program in Villa Favard, one of the buildings of Conservatorio di Musica "Luigi Cherubini" di Firenze.

Soprano MYUNG SAN KO performs Anthony Philip Heinrich's and Stephen Collins Foster's songs in concert at Villa Bardini, on April 4, 2017. Originally from Seoul, South Korea, and born into a prominent musical family, Myung San Ko is a graduate in voice and in vocal chamber music at the Conservatorio di Musica "Luigi Cherubini" in Florence, where she is attending a Master's Program in Vocal Studies. 

The ICAMus Early American Music program, in collaboration with Conservatorio di Musica "Luigi Cherubini" di Firenze takes place on Tuesday April 4, 2017 at 5:30 PM in Villa Bardini, Florence, Italy, portrayed in the second photo here below. Built in the early 17th century, Villa Bardini is a celebrated historic palace and museum, showcasing both a permanent collection and temporary exhibits, and is an international attraction thanks to its architecture, garden, park and breathtaking view of the city of Florence. Villa Bardini is the venue where the yearly concert season of the Florence Music Conservatory takes place. The April 4, 2017 ICAMus program marks the inauguration of the Affiliation Agreement between the Center and the Music Conservatory, stipulated to pursue common educational and research projects focusing on American music of the past and the present time.

PLEASE FIND MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE APRIL 4, 2017 EARLY AMERICAN MUSIC CONCERT IN FLORENCE--PROGRAM, IMAGES, RESERVATIONS--IN OUR UPCOMING EVENTS PAGE, HERE.