A Natural History of the Piano

In this multi-media presentation, Stuart Isacoff, pianist, critic, teacher and author of "Temperament: How Music Became a Battleground for the Great Minds of Western Civilization," unfolds the history and evolution of the piano and all its myriad wonders: how its very sound provides the basis for emotional expression and individual style, and why it has so powerfully entertained generation upon generation of listeners.

His book, A Natural History of the Piano, distills a lifetime of research and passion in one brilliant narrative. Learn how Mozart unveiled his monumental concertos in Vienna’s coffeehouses, using a special piano with one keyboard for the hands and another for the feet; picture European virtuoso Henri Herz entertaining rowdy miners during the California gold rush; hear about Beethoven at his piano, conjuring healing angels to console a grieving mother; and of Liszt fainting in the arms of a page turner to spark an entire hall into hysterics. And see how classical music and jazz influenced each other as the uniquely American art form progressed from ragtime, novelty, stride, and boogie, to bebop and beyond.

The author will help you discover the history of the instrument in all its complexity and beauty.