Celebrating a time before pianos

This past summer, the UVU Music Department acquired a harpsichord – a predecessor to the piano, with strings perpendicular to keys that are played simultaneously. Peter Fisk harpsichord inspired a department-wide collaboration that has now become Harpsichord Week.

This weeklong festival started Nov. 13 and will go through Nov. 21. The festival was planned to give students, music and non-music majors alike, an “opportunity to learn” according to piano department chair, Hilary Demske.

“The music department is growing,” said Demske, and  this event is part of their effort to publicize and invite students to engage in that growth.?The week revolves around a special guest, Dr. Ling-Ju Lai, a professional musician and mentor. She is visiting from Michigan and staying for the week to work with the department. She will be working with students throughout this time by offering lectures and teaching rehearsals, lessons, master classes and presenting a total of five recitals with UVU students and faculty that are all free for the public to attend. The performances stand as a showcase of what they have learned.

The performances consist of unusual partnerships between pianists and singers as well as percussionists and harpsichordists, bringing diverse groups together to make different but enjoyable music.

Lai will also be performing a solo recital at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 16 in GT 416.

The complete schedule of events for the week can be found in the music department, on the music department Web site and on posters and monitors throughout the campus.