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Music Lectures and Workshops
Are you interested in scheduling an entertaining program for your organization, museum or educational institution?
See the lectures and workshops listed below.
All of the programs listed are presented by Roger Lee Hall, a Massachusetts composer, musicologist, singer, writer and music preservationist. For his extensive accomplishments, he has been listed in Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the World.
He has spent the past four decades working to preserve music from earlier America and has presented over 150 music lectures and workshops which have received raves from many audiences.
A few responses to his programs:
"Your lecture was enthusiastically received and I have heard nothing but very positive comments from registrants."
-- Dr. Robert Bishop, Director, Museum of American Folk Art,
New York City."Thank you very much for such a delightful and informative lecture."
-- Mary Frazier, Braintree Historical Society, Braintree, Massachusetts.
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Sample Lectures and Workshops
presented by Roger Lee Hall:
1973: "Songs and Dances of the Shakers" --
Case Western Reserve University and Shaker Historical Society,
Shaker Heights, Ohio.1975: "Shaker Hymnody" --
National Meeting of Hymn Society of America, Wittenberg University, Ohio.1979: "Isaac N. Youngs: The Ingenuity of a Shaker Craftsman" --
Shaker Conference, Museum of American Folk Art, New York, New York.1980: "Old Stoughton in Old Boston" -- at "Musick in Old Boston" Festival for Jubilee 350 Celebration, Old West Church, Boston, Massachusetts.
1981: "The Humble Heart: A Pageant of Shaker Verse and Song" --
Elmira College Shaker Seminar, Groton, Massachusetts.1982: "Singing Utopias: Communal Music in Early America,"
Museum of Our National Heritage, Lexington, Massachusetts.1982: Workshop - "Symbols and Symmetry - Music, Art and Architecture of the Shakers" -- Heritage Series at Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, Sabbathday Lake, Maine.
1983: Workshop - "Early American Music" -- Kodaly Center,
Newton, Massachusetts.1983: "The Handel of Maine - The Musical Life of Supply Belcher" --
Maine Humanities Council, Westbrook College, Portland, Maine.1984: "Charles T. Griffes - A Centennial Tribute" --
New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, Massachusetts.1984: "Musical Iconography in Shaker Folk Drawings" -- Museum of American Folk Art Symposium (Religious Folk Art in America),
New York, New York.1986: "Beautiful Dreamer - The Life and Music of Stephen Foster" --
Brookline Woman's Club, Brookline, Massachusetts.1986: "Two Centuries of Choral Music in New England"-- Museum of Our National Heritage, Lexington, Massachusetts.
1990: "Singing Stoughton - The Story of America's Oldest Choral Society" --
Braintree Historical Society, Braintree, Massachusetts.1993: "More Love: Music of the Canterbury Shakers" --
Museum of Our National Heritage, Lexington, Massachusetts
2003: Workshop - "The Sidewalks of New York: Old Songs and Stories " -- Conkling Hall, Rensselaerville, New York
2003: "Bing and Bob in Hollywood: A Centennial Tribute to Bing Crosby and Bob Hope" -- Newton Free Library, Newton Centre, Massachusetts
2004: "Hooray for Hollywood: Memorable Movie Music" (including the annual Sammy Awards) -- Bridgewater Public Library and Newton Free Library, Massachusetts.
2004: "Ode to Contentment: Travels of a Shaker Missionary and Tunesmith" -- Communal Studies Conference, Hancock Shaker Village, Hancock, Massachusetts.
2005: "It's Magic: A Centennial Celebration of Harold Arlen, Dorothy Fields, Jule Styne" -- Newton Free Library, Newton Centre, Massachusetts.
2005: "The Lore and Legends of New England Songs" --
Bridgewater Public Library, Bridgewater, Massachusetts.2008: "Remembering Radio" -- Franklin Public Library, Franklin, Massachusetts.
2009: "Lincoln and Liberty: Music of Abraham Lincoln's Era"--
Stoughton Public Library, Stoughton, Massachusetts.
2009: "Runnin' Wild: Molasses and Music Merriment" -- Stoughton Reads Together series, Stoughton Public Library.
2009: "Gentle Words" - Shaker Music in the 20th Century --
Scott Swank Lecture Series, Canterbury Shaker Village,
Canterbury, New Hampshire.2010: Patriotic Songs in Early Canton -- Canton Historical Society, Canton, Massachusetts.
2010: Christmas Sings of the Stoughton Musical Society --
Randolph Historical Society, Randolph, Massachusetts.
2011: E.A. Jones: Stoughton's Past Music Man and
release of the new DVD, "How Beautiful Upon The Mountains" --
Stoughton Historical Society, Stoughton, Massachusetts.2012: "The Humble Heart" - Music of the Harvard Shakers --
Harvard Historical Society, Harvard, Massachusetts2012: "Celestial Praises" - Music of the New Hampshire Shakers --
Concord Community Music School, Concord, New Hampshire
A Commemorative Music Lecture
on the 150th Anniversary
of the American Civil War
Would you like to schedule a lecture for your organization
by music historian Roger Lee Hall about the evolution of
"John Brown's Body" and "Battle Hymn of the Republic"
with music examples and sheet music on display?Write for more details and fees to:
John Brown and Battle Hymn of the Republic
See also the special 150th anniversary multimedia CD,
playable on any computer,"Glory, Hallelujah!" -
Songs and Hymns of the Civil War Era
The lectures and workshops are available for a general audience (senior groups, college or museum lecture series, historical society meetings, churches, library programs); or a specific audience (church or community choirs, music schools or colleges, workshop for specialists in music or related arts).
Music sheets will be provided by the lecturer and copies can be made by the sponsoring group. Supplemental materials, such as CDs and music books, will be available for sale on the day of the event.
The titles listed below have links to other pages which have additional information about each topic.
[L] = Lecture (from 45 minutes to 90 minutes)
[W] = Workshop (from several hours to a full day)
To discuss fees and scheduling, write to:
EARLY AMERICANA
1. Music of George Washington's Time [L or W] - audio examples - During the early years of America there were more songs being sung than might be expected, and a number of them were written in tribute to George Washington, as Commander-in-Chief of the Colonial Army and later as first U.S. President. The workshop deals with this era in more detail with more attention to the songs in the historical context of 18th century America.
CD:
"A Toast" - Music of George Washington's Time (AMRA No. 13)2. Lincoln and Liberty [L or W] - PowerPoint computer presentation with audio examples - The lecture features stories about songs and hymns from Abraham Lincoln's lifetime, especially during the Civil War. The workshop has more detail about selective songs, and a few of the popular ones will be sung with those attending.
CD and Listener's Guide:
Lincoln and Liberty: Music of Abraham Lincoln's Era3. Singing Stoughton - The Story of America's Oldest Choral Society [L or W] - slides or video - A survey at the Stoughton Musical Society from its beginnings in 1786 to its bicentennial observance in 1986. Among the highlights are the concerts at the Centennial Celebration of 1886 and World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. The workshop will discuss and learn some of the music from the musical society's history.
Book and CD:
The Stoughton Songster
DVD:
Old Stoughton - Singing Meetings and Concerts, 1760-1910
MEDIA MEMORIES
(Radio, Television, Movies)
4. Hooray for Hollywood - Memorable Movie Music [L or W] - audio and video examples - the lecture will look at selected movie songs and themes from the 1930s to the 1960s. The workshop will highlight major films by watching clips of film songs and scores.
DVD with music:
A Guide to Film Music - Songs and Scores
5. Hoppy, Gene and Me [L] - audio or video examples - a nostalgic look back at the career on radio, television and in the movies for three major cowboy stars: Gene Autry, Hopalong Cassidy (played by William Boyd), and Roy Rogers. The lecture will show how these stars provided a more wholesome example for both children and adults, and highlight selected songs from their films, such as "Back in the Saddle","Following the Stars" and "Happy Trails" and the stories behind them.
Multimedia DVD with music:
B-western songs and stories6. Remembering Radio [L or W] - audio examples - a nostalgic look back at music featured on various radio broadcasts from the 1920s to 1950s. The workshop will include a re-creation of a typical old-time radio program with songs by vintage songwriters like Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, and Cole Porter.
Book and CD:
Remembering Radio - Great Songwriters and Singers
MUSIC PRESERVATION
7. Preserving Our Musical Past[L or W] - an examination of selected American music from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, in need of preservation or re-discovery . The workshop includes analysis and performance of a few selected short works.
DVD:
Preserving Our Musical Past8. "Goin' Home" - The Heritage of Great American Songs [L or W] - slides or video - a look at the rich history of songs in America from the 18th century to the popular songs on radio and movies in the 20th century. The workshop includes more historical background and performance of selected songs.
CDs:
America in Song, Vol. I: From American Revolution To World War I
America in Song, Volume II: From the Civil War to Cold War9. Lore and Legends of New England Songs [L] - slides with audio examples - features a sampling of familiar tunes with different texts from England and New England, and also legends of selected songs, including patriotic, religious, seafaring, Christmas carols, Native American, and Shaker spirituals.
CD:
New England Song Treasury
DVD:
A New England Music Miscellany
POPULAR SONGS
(Songwriters and Singers)
10. Beautiful Dreamer: The Life and Music of Stephen Foster [L] - the life of America's first great songwriter, featuring a slide show and rare recordings of his songs and hymns.
CD:
Lincoln and Liberty: Music from Abraham Lincoln's Era
11. Electric Elvis: The Emergence of a Superstar [L] - audio/ video clips - so much is known about Elvis Presley in his later years, but what about his beginnings? This lecture will focus on the emergence of Elvis between 1954 and 1960, and will trace his days from a rockabilly singer to an "electric" performer in concerts, records, radio, TV and movies.
Multimedia CD-ROM:
"Shake, Rattle and Roll" - Electric Elvis and Bill Randle.12. I Got Rhythm: The Genius of George Gershwin [L or W] - an audio-visual tour of George Gershwin's life and music, featuring his Broadway, Hollywood and concert works. Workshop includes a video showing of Gershwin's life and rare recordings performed by Gershwin himself.
Book and accompanying CD:
A Guide to George Gershwin.
COMMUNAL SOCIETIES
(Music, Folk Art, Architecture)
13. Singing Utopias [L] - slides or video examples - a survey of music in early America communal societies, including Ephrata Cloister, General Economy (Moravians), The Harmony Society, Zoar Separatists, United Order (Latter Day Saints), Hopedale Community, Brook Farm, and The Shakers.
Music Collection:
"The Best Choice" - A Sampling of American Communal Hymns
CD:
Gentle Words: A Shaker Music Sampler
14. The Simple Gifts of Shaker Music [L or W] - slides - a survey of Shaker music from its beginnings in England to its development in America during the 19th and 20th centuries. The workshop will focus on the evolution and relevance of the most famous Shaker song, "Simple Gifts," including arrangements by Judy Collins, Aaron Copland, John Williams.
CD:
The Simple Gifts of Shaker Music
Multimedia DVD with book and music:
The Story of 'Simple Gifts': Joseph Brackett's Shaker Dance Song15. Symbols and Symmetry: Shaker Music, Art and Architecture [L or W] - slides - comparison of the symetrical designs in Shaker spirituals, gift drawings, and building designs. The workshop includes slides and/or video with a detailed study of relationships between Shaker music, folk art, and architecture.
Book and CD:
A Guide to Shaker Music - With Music Supplement
To discuss fees and scheduling, write to Roger Lee Hall at this link:
American Music Recordings Archive [AMRA]
Essential American Recordings Survey [EARS]
New England Music Archive [NEMA]
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