Historical Instruments Residency Presented by Trevor Stephenson at Gustavus

Trevor Stephenson, historical keyboard scholar, will present a day-long residency on historical keyboard instruments on Friday, September 14, culminating with a recital at 7:30 p.m. in Bjorling Recital Hall at Gustavus Adolphus College. Using his replica 17th-century Flemish harpsichord (modeled after Couchet) and replica late 18th-century fortepiano (modeled after Stein) Stephenson will perform music by Scarlatti, Handel, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, and Schubert. The residency activities and the recital are free and open to the public.

Trevor Stephenson received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Historical Performance of 18th-Century Music from Cornell University. With his colleague, Norman Sheppard, he has rebuilt and customized a series of historical keyboard instruments ranging from Italian Renaissance harpsichords to Victorian pianos. In 2004 he founded the Madison Bach Musicians and currently serves as harpsichordist and artistic director. He has released twelve recordings on the Light & Shadow label and tours throughout the United States as performer and lecturer.

Stephenson’s residency at Gustavus begins on Friday morning from 9:00-10:30 a.m. with a lecture demonstration entitled “From Quill to Hammer.” He will explore the dramatic shift in aesthetics, beliefs, and conceptions of sound that occurred during the 18th century as the harpsichord was popularly supplanted by the fortepiano. By playing and discussing brief examples by Bach, Handel, Scarlatti, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert on both harpsichord and fortepiano, he will trace the stylistic transformation that occurred during the 18th century.

Beginning at 11:00 a.m., he will conduct a master class with local students performing pieces from the Anna Magdalena Bach Notebook, easy classical sonatinas, and more advanced pieces for intermediate and early advanced students.

The residency ends with Stephenson’s recital at 7:30 p.m. in Jussi Björling Recital Hall. This performance, along with the other events of the day, is open to the public at no charge.

This event is made possible in part by a local association grant from the Music Teachers National Association and is co-sponsored by the Mankato Area MTA, Sioux Valley MTA, the Minnesota Valley MTA, and Gustavus Adolphus College. For more information, please contact Rebekah Richards, rrichard@gac.edu or 507 934-9117.