An event of international significance to music will occur at Rhodes College this fall. It will focus on the disappearance of a treasure trove of musical masterpieces from Germany at the end of World War II and its reintroduction to the world in 1999 by a Harvard professor.
"žThe relocation of the Berlin Sing-Akademie library from Kiev back to Berlin is the single most important musicological event of our generation," says Professor Timothy Sharp, Rhodes music department chair.
Founded in 1791, the Berlin Sing-Akademie was responsible for the introduction to the Berlin public of such new works as Mozart"šs Requiem and Mendelssohn"šs St. Paul. It also was important in the development of a renewed interest in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach.
In 1829, with Felix Mendelssohn conducting, the Sing-Akademie gave the first performance since Bach"šs death in 1750 of his St. Matthew"šs Passion. Sharp says that it is not uncommon for a great composer's works to fade from public interest for extended periods, and that a high-visibility event such as Mendelssohn's performance of Bach can re-establish popularity.
The world"šs foremost Bach authority, Harvard Professor Christoph Wolff, will be at Rhodes November 6-8. He will deliver Rhodes' fall Springfield lecture and recount the exciting story of his work in helping to relocate the library of Sing-Akademie from Kiev to Berlin more than half a century after it was removed by the invading Soviet army in 1945.
The two-day symposium also will draw music scholars and performers from around the world. Papers and performances presented will feature various composers found in the library. The concluding highlight of the symposium will be a performance of J.S. Bach"šs Magnificat and C.P.E. Bach"šs Magnificat by the Rhodes MasterSingers Chorale, soloists and the Memphis Symphony Orchestra under Sharp's baton.
Sharp points out that musicology changed tremendously during the years the music in this great library was lost to sight and speculates new masterpieces will be discovered as it is probed and catalogued.
"žSome of that may even happen at Rhodes,"° he says. "žWhen you get the world"šs greatest music scholars together in one place, who knows what will happen?"°
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