Music for a Revolution

John Burkhalter and Eugene Roan present the favorites of George and Martha Washington.

By: Susan Van Dongen

"image"

TIMEOFF/MARK CZAJKOWSKI
Harpsichord, recorder and vintage music from the collection of John Burkhalter.


   Americans were delighted when Bill Clinton jammed on his tenor saxophone along the campaign trail, even if it was just a band- room version of "Night Train." Imagine — a political leader who is also a musician.
   There was a time when any well-educated gentleman, especially one with an eye to public office, would naturally be musical — if not a player, an avid listener. George Washington and John Adams attended recitals frequently. The finest instruments, such as harpsichords crafted in London, filled their conservatories and both Martha Washington and Abigail Adams were talented keyboardists.
   More famously, Thomas Jefferson was an accomplished violinist. Musician and musicologist John Burkhalter knows this because he’s seen the original versions of the music President Jefferson played, as well as pieces Ms. Washington and Ms. Adams had in their repertoire.

"image"

John Burkhalter (left) and Eugene Roan go over music in preparation for the April 10 concert.


   "While the political lives of our country’s founding mothers and fathers is well-known, the social milieu of their world is less familiar," he says.
   The recorder virtuoso teamed up with keyboardist Eugene Roan to form the Practitioners of Musick a few years ago, specializing in the performance of 18th-century American, Irish and British music. The ensemble regularly performs at such historic sites as Independence Hall in Philadelphia and Bruton Parish Church in Williamsburg, Va.
   On April 10, they’ll join with vocal chamber group Mostly Motets in a performance of Colonial- and Federal-era music at historic Hillsborough Reformed Church in Millstone. The concert features music heard in that period’s churches and homes — including the first White House. Other pieces on the program celebrate the life of President Jefferson and mourn the passing of President Washington as well as John Hancock.
   In addition, the program features a piece performed in Princeton before the war broke out.
   "The earliest documented concert in Princeton took place in 1774," Mr. Burkhalter says. "An article appeared in the ‘New York Journal’ indicating there would be a concert followed by a dance at a tavern in Princeton. We have a complete transcription of that newspaper article, which mentioned the vocal music performed."
   Mr. Burkhalter and Mr. Roan chose the Millstone venue for its location and aesthetics, but also for the church’s historic merit. Mr. Burkhalter explains that the churches in Millstone figured prominently during the Revolutionary War. One pastor is remembered as urging his flock to "cast off the shackles of English tyranny."
   "The current building dates from 1828 and it’s a brilliant example of Federal-period architecture in America," Mr. Burkhalter says. "The neo-classical interior is extraordinary, but the curious thing is that no one knows who the architect was. It’s also an ambient space with excellent acoustics. And it has an 18th-century pipe organ, perfectly suited for English organ music of the period. We’ve played in numerous 18th-century churches and this particular building is among the more attractive venues for our performances."
   In his home in Montgomery Woods, tucked between the stacks of floor-to-ceiling books, there’s a fascinating collection of Asian prints and objets d’art, many very old. Musical instruments are everywhere, including two handsome reproduction Baroque harpsichords. Of course, there are also numerous recorders as well as Mr. Burkhalter’s array of Central and South American wind instruments. Along with Gillette Griffin, he was a driving force behind the exhibit, concert and lecture series Music from the Land of the Jaguar at the Princeton University Art Museum last year. Many of those musical artifacts were from Mr. Burkhalter’s collection.
   A student of early music performance at the New England Conservatory of Music and Harvard University, Mr. Burkhalter has composed and performed pieces for numerous PBS documentaries. He’s lectured extensively on the ancient musical cultures of the Americas at Princeton, Yale University and the Pre-Columbian Society of the University of Pennsylvania. In addition, he’s served as a musical consultant for the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C.
   Mr. Roan is a professor emeritus and former chairman of the piano, organ and harpsichord department at Westminster Choir College of Rider University, where he has taught since 1956. He’s lectured and performed extensively in the United States and taught at the Royal School of Church Music in England. A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and Westminster Choir College, he also studied at the School of Sacred Music of the Union Theological Seminary in New York. Mr. Roan currently teaches harpsichord performance at Westminster.
   Mr. Burkhalter winces a little when talking about the Revolutionary War and "English tyranny."
   "My mother is English," he says. "But on the other hand, my father had an ancestor who was a lieutenant colonel in the Continental Army."
   Mr. Burkhalter adds that his family has another close connection with a landmark of the Revolutionary War. He’s a descendant of David Deshler, who built what became known as the Deshler-Morris House in the Germantown area of Philadelphia. Prior to the Battle of Germantown in 1777, British Commander Sir William Howe made the house his headquarters.
   "In 1792, my family sold the house to another Philadelphia merchant family who, in turn, leased the house to President Washington during his first term as President of the United States," Mr. Burkhalter says.
   When the yellow fever epidemic hit Philadelphia — the nation’s capital — President Washington preferred to live and conduct business on the outskirts of the city and presided over meetings at the residence, which became known as the "Germantown White House."
   Mostly, however, Mr. Burkhalter and Mr. Roan are concerned with their collection of musical instruments and ancient manuscripts. The former says they own pieces that are the only known copies in America, and have one or two manuscripts that are the last remaining in the world.
   "Much of the music from this concert comes from our collection," Mr. Burkhalter says. "All the music — over 250 individual items — was published either in London, Edinburgh or Dublin and many examples have direct (links to) a number of prominent 18th-century men and women including Thomas Jefferson and Martha Washington. Our collection has begun to attract the attention of a number of very important modern early music groups who have either built entire programs around our collection or have ‘dipped into the well’ for specific works we are known to possess."
   For the April 10 concert, the Practitioners of Musick will also use a one-of-a-kind performing archive given to them by composer, scholar and retired educator Gordon Myers. For many years, Mr. Myers was a member of New York Pro Musica as well as Princeton’s Bach Aria Group. He became interested in 18th-century music in America, particularly during and after the Revolutionary War, researching the subject for years.
   "His archive is one of the most extraordinary for 18th-century music — his research was real pioneering work — and he presented his entire performance archive to us, some of which will be performed at the concert," Mr. Burkhalter says. "That means we’ll be able to carry on and honor what Gordon Myers started more than 30 years ago. Both of us have known him for years, and he recognized that this archive would be used, shared and, most importantly, it would be heard."
The Practitioners of Musick and Mostly Motets will perform music from the 18th century at Hillsborough Reformed Church, Amwell and River roads, Millstone, April 10, 3 p.m. Free admission. For information, call (908) 359-3391. On the Web: www.guildforearlymusic.org/Practitioners.html