Jon Barlow Remembered: His Legacy in Music and the Liberal Arts
Saturday, February 9, 2019 at 9:30am
The Russell House
FREE!
Jon Barlow was a visionary musician and teacher, whose mind ranged freely through an immense field of topics. A remarkable pianist, and an authority on topics as diverse as mathematics and the history of baseball, he had a profound impact on several generations of Wesleyan students. Participants will include John Spencer Camp Professor of Music Neely Bruce, Professor of Music Ron Kuivila, Alex Waterman, and Jonathan Zorn '02 MA '07.
Schedule of Events
9:30am Introduction; an overview of Jon Barlow's life and career at Wesleyan; Nicolas Collins '76 MA '79
discusses his recordings, including the Three Page Sonata by Charles Ives. Moderated by Winslow-Kaplan Professor of Music Emeritus Mark Slobin.
10:30am “Irrationals, Ineffables, Anarchisms: Music Theory on a Slant;” Matthew Rahaim '00 and Rachel Thompson discuss Jon Barlow's papers.
11:30am Jon Barlow as an interdisciplinary scholar; alumni including Luke Wood '91 and colleagues discuss his signature course, “Some Southpaw Pitching.” Moderated by Joshua Boger University Professor of the Sciences and Mathematics Emeritus David Beveridge.
Lunch break
1:30pm Jon Barlow and South Indian Music; remembrances and music by Adjunct Associate Professor of Music B. Balasubrahmaniyan and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music David Nelson, with guest violinist Sahana Vasudevan.
2:30pm Jon Barlow, medieval and renaissance music, Emily Dickinson. “Performing Emily” by John Spencer Camp Professor of Music Emeritus Alvin Lucier. Performance by Associate Professor of Music and Medieval Studies Jane Alden and assisting artists.
3pm George Barth '72 discusses Jon Barlow's edition of Charles Ives' First Piano Sonata.
4pm Concluding remarks by Katherine Bergeron '80 followed by a move over to World Music Hall.
"The Chill of Music" and other Jon Barlow exercises. Molly Sturges MA '00 to facilitate.
4:30pm Reception downstairs in World Music Hall; Jon Barlow exercises continue upstairs.
The day will conclude with a concert in Crowell Concert Hall at 8pm.
Jon Barlow Remembered is made possible by the Susan B. and William K. Wasch Center for Retired Faculty at Wesleyan University; the Music Department; the Boger Fund; Creative Campus Initiative; University Relations; and private individuals. Special thanks to Ron Kuivila and the Barlow family.
Listen to a conversation with John Spencer Camp Professor of Music Neely Bruce, Professor of Music Ron Kuivila, and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Academic Writing and Associate Director for Assessment Rachael Barlow about Jon Barlow on the Center for the Arts Radio Hour (starting at 23:00). Featuring a recording of Jon Barlow performing Frédéric Chopin's Prelude in e minor Op. 28 No. 4; Nocturne in E Major Op. 62 No. 2; and the beginning of Prelude in F# Major Op. 28 No. 13. Recorded on April 4, 1992 by Roland Barlow at Lehigh University for Jon Barlow's parents' 50th wedding anniversary.