by Jan Swafford
First published 2014
Jan Swafford chronicles the remarkable journey of America's oldest continuously operating performing arts organization. Founded in 1815, the Handel and Haydn Society began with the works of two masters: Handel, the classical foundation, and Haydn, the musical innovator. Swafford traces how this Boston institution evolved across two centuries, pioneering music education and publishing historic collections in its early decades. The narrative follows key transformations through the twentieth century as H&H embraced recordings and television broadcasts. A pivotal shift occurred when Thomas Dunn arrived as music director, introducing historically informed performance practices. This movement toward authentic period performance gained momentum under Christopher Hogwood and continues under current director Harry Christophers. Swafford reveals how H&H became America's premier Baroque and Classical music ensemble, leading both as a period instrument orchestra and chorus while maintaining its educational mission throughout generations of change.
Genres: biography, history, 20th-century, american, music, 21st-century, classical-music, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical, institutional-history, organizational-change
Setting: America, Boston
Period: 19th-century, 20th-century, 21st-century
245 pages · Hardcover · David R. Godine, Publisher