Words and Music: Charles Ives and American Transcendentalism

Charles Ives described his “Concord” Sonata as “impressionistic pictures of Emerson and Thoreau, a sketch of the Alcotts, and a Scherzo supposed to reflect a lighter quality which is often found in the fantastic side of Hawthorne.” Pianist Jeremy Denk’s recording of Ives was hailed as one of the Best Albums of 2010. Now he returns to 92Y to perform sections of the Sonata alongside readings of these classic American writers.