FACULTY NEWS

 

Assistant Professor of Piano Christopher Harding just returned from a month’s residency as a Fulbright Senior Specialist at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music in Chengdu, China. While in residence he presented lecture recitals on American music and classic period music, as well as masterclasses and daily lessons for small audiences of students and teachers. He was also invited to perform Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto with the Sichuan Conservatory Symphony Orchestra, Eric Zhou, conducting

James Kibbie, Professor of Organ at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, is undertaking a three-year project to record the complete organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach.  Dr. Kibbie is recording some 270 extant Bach organ works, totaling over 18 hours in length, on original 18th-c. organs in Germany, most of which Bach himself played and in some cases helped to design. The University of Michigan will make these recordings available free of charge as internet downloads, marking the first time the complete canon of Bach organ works will be available through the internet.  The website will also feature information on the organs, the music, and U of M’s Historic Organ Tours, hosted by Prof. Marilyn Mason.    During the 2007 phase of the project, Dr. Kibbie is recording the Leipzig Chorales, the Kirnberger Chorales, and a variety of free works on the historic Gottfried Silbermann organs in the Hofkirche in Dresden and the Georgenkirche and Marienkirche in Rötha.  The initial recordings will be posted as free downloads in late summer of 2007.     This project is made possible through a generous gift by Dr. Barbara Sloat in honor of J. Barry Sloat.  Additional support is provided by the U of M School of Music, Theatre & Dance and the Office of Vice-President for Research.  Recording, editing and mastering are under the direction of David Lau of Brookwood Studios, Ann Arbor, Michigan.