Field Trip!!
The Studio headed to the University of North Texas State in Denton, Texas on April 1, 2017 for a workshop on the Fortepiano. Professor Christoph Hammer, who was in residence at UNT for two weeks (he currently lives in Germany) presented an incredible workshop on the fortepiano [and harpsichord and organ]. We were spellbound for an hour and a half while he talked, demonstrated and played the fortepiano. He also discussed the relationship of the harpsichord and organ with the fortepiano. ALL the students who wanted to were allowed not only to play the fortepiano but also the organ and harpsichord. Some pieces worked well on all 3 instruments; some didn't. It was fascinating to experience for ourselves the how and why keyboard instruments developed into the instrument we now call the piano. We listened, played and oohed and ahhed. This was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon; thank you parents for allowing your students to go. Thank you to Mrs. Bruce, Mrs. Buyten and Mr. Lantagne for driving and to Mrs. Williams for chaperoning. It was great!
The Studio headed to the University of North Texas State in Denton, Texas on April 1, 2017 for a workshop on the Fortepiano. Professor Christoph Hammer, who was in residence at UNT for two weeks (he currently lives in Germany) presented an incredible workshop on the fortepiano [and harpsichord and organ]. We were spellbound for an hour and a half while he talked, demonstrated and played the fortepiano. He also discussed the relationship of the harpsichord and organ with the fortepiano. ALL the students who wanted to were allowed not only to play the fortepiano but also the organ and harpsichord. Some pieces worked well on all 3 instruments; some didn't. It was fascinating to experience for ourselves the how and why keyboard instruments developed into the instrument we now call the piano. We listened, played and oohed and ahhed. This was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon; thank you parents for allowing your students to go. Thank you to Mrs. Bruce, Mrs. Buyten and Mr. Lantagne for driving and to Mrs. Williams for chaperoning. It was great!
Check out the photos below -- Thank you Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Bruce! If anyone else has more photos, I'll gladly put them up.
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Christoph Hammer (visiting professor in fortepiano at UNT), hailed as a “poet of the fortepiano” by the Italian press, was born in Germany in 1966. He studied organ at the Academy of Music and Theater in Munich, also attending courses and workshops with renowned specialists for historic keyboard instruments. In addition, he studied German Literature and Musicology at the Ludwig-Maximilian University in Munich and at UCLA. Since 1989, Hammer has focused on playing historical keyboard instruments, especially the fortepiano.
He has achieved an international reputation as a soloist and lieder accompanist as well as in chamber music. Numerous recordings document his success, the newest of which features piano works of Carl Czerny (ORF Edition). In addition to the established concert repertoire, Hammer dedicates his time to the rediscovery of little-known composers as well as to researching and editing their works. He performed at numerous international festivals such as Mozart-Festival Wurzburg, Festival de piano Roques d’Antheron, Festwochen fur Alte Musik Innsbruck, Tage alter Musik Herne, La folles journee Nantes, Tonhalle Zurich, Konzerthaus Wien, Alte Oper Frankfurt, Munich State Opera Festival, Beethovenhaus Bonn and others. Christoph Hammer has played as a soloist with orchestras such as Concerto Cologne, Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, Los Angeles Baroque Orchestra, and Prague Chamber Orchestra, among others. Mr. Hammer has taught masterclasses at leading institutions such as the Czech State Music Academy (Prague), Tchaikovsky Conservatory (Moscow), State Music Academy (Minsk) and others. He was associate professor of harpsichord and fortepiano at UNT from 2009 to 2013. |