AMS NEWSLETTER THE AMERICAN MUSICOLOGICAL SOCIETY CONSTITUENT MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF LEARNED SOCIETIES VOLUME XXXIX, NUMBER 1 February, 2009 ISSN 0402-012X OPUS Campaign News AMS 2009: Turning 75 to the “Philly Sound” The splendid member response to our www.ams-net.org/philadelphia as 1984’s fiftieth-anniversary meeting (albeit with a new name—twenty-five years ago it September mailing—the full-color, glossy The American Musicological Society will was called the Franklin Plaza Hotel). With- brochure meant as the climax of the print hold its 2009 annual meeting from 12 to in a few blocks are the aromatic food and pieces—showed that good progress could 15 November in historic Philadelphia. The craft stalls of the Terminal Market, fashion- be made even in the overcast economic city’s walkable downtown and temperate able Rittenhouse Square, and the impres- climate. From the beginning of November climate (for the northeast, that is) make for 2008 sive City Hall, a late nineteenth-century to the end of December we received an enjoyable visit at any time of the year. architectural masterpiece in the Second November temperatures generally range The Box Score Empire style that remains the world’s tall- from the low 40s to the high 50s during the Date Donors $5K $1K est masonry building. Close by is the city’s 10.31.2007 $1,477,972 1,010 65 109 day, and down to the 30s at night; snow and museum district, featuring the Philadelphia 2.01.2008 $1,518,367 1,114 68 123 other wintry weather are unusual before Museum of Art, Rodin Museum, Academy 2.01.2009 $1,976,889 1,389 73 222 December, but visitors should keep an eye of Natural Sciences, and Franklin Institute. $737,123 on the local forecast nonetheless. Philadel- Certified eligible for NEH: Here one can also take a scenic walk along Still needed for full certification: $222,877 phia is easily accessible by train from points the Schuylkill River in one of the sixty-three along the east coast, and the airport is a $120,000 regional and neighborhood parks making more than . Donors celebrated the major hub for several airlines; a commuter up the city’s Fairmount Park system. Mu- beginnings of this trend in Nashville, dur- rail line connects the airport with central seum-minded visitors will find much else ing an elegant reception in the rotunda of Philadelphia in twenty minutes. to occupy them across the city, whether it the Country Music Hall of Fame. David Although much has been made of Phila- be art (the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Jackson, husband of Donna Cardamone delphia’s inferiority complex when it comes Arts, Barnes Foundation, and University of Jackson, was present to recognize the first to its northeastern neighbors, Boston and Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and subvention from the Jackson Fund: Roger New York, natives have nothing to be Anthropology), American history (the Na- ashamed of (especially in view of the Phil- continued on page tional Constitution Center), or the delight- lies’ recent World Series victory!). Indeed, fully macabre (Eastern State Penitentiary if you have never visited the metropolitan In This Issue… and the Mutter Museum of anatomical and area, you will be impressed by its exception- President’s message 2 pathological specimens). ally rich cultural offerings, nurtured in part Treasurer’s message 3 Old City, Philadelphia’s most historic dis- by several dozen colleges and universities AMS/SMT Nashville Report 3 trict, lies near the Delaware River, about a (the best known being Bryn Mawr, Hav- News from the AMS Board 4 mile east of the conference hotel. Among erford, and Swarthmore Colleges; the Uni- Music in American Culture Award 4 its essential sights are Independence Na- versity of Pennsylvania; and Drexel, Tem- AMS 75 Publication Awards 5 tional Historical Park (including Indepen- ple, and Villanova Universities). In recent Jan LaRue Travel Grant 5 dence Hall and the Liberty Bell), Christ years Philadelphia has also developed a na- Awards, Prizes, and Honors 6 Church (where George Washington and tional reputation as a gastronomic Mecca. AMS Elections 2009 11 Benjamin Franklin worshipped), the Betsy There are good options for every palate and AMS-LC Lecture Series 15 Ross House, and entire blocks of Georgian 15 pocketbook, with some of the city’s most Committee News town houses and churches that look much 17 distinctive cuisine—by no means limited to Study Group News as they did in the eighteenth century. News Briefs 19 cheesesteaks and soft pretzels—available for The epicenter of the city’s lively music Papers Read at Chapter Meetings 20 sampling at Reading Terminal Market and scene is South Broad Street, dominated by Financial Summary 2008 25 the Italian Market on South Ninth Street. the new Kimmel Center for the Perform- Executive Director’s Report 26 Our venue for the meeting is the Sheraton ing Arts (home of the Philadelphia Or- AMS Legacy Gifts 26 Philadelphia City Center Hotel, located chestra) and the Academy of Music, an 1857 Conferences 27 close to many of the city’s most famous Obituaries 27 sights, and coincidentally the same venue continued on page President’s Message What a great time and place it was for our type, length, and format of sessions, papers, people would submit nominations. Honor- annual meeting! Everywhere we went in and performances. We need your input and ing our members for scholarly achievements Nashville, our 2,050 conference participants ideas about these matters! Please send your is truly the most rewarding duty of our So- (a record turnout!) were surrounded by the suggestions to our vice president, Honey ciety, a duty in which we all can take part sights and sounds of music, whether at our Meconi, who chairs the committee. through the nomination process. So if you hotel with its Bluegrass, Country, Gospel, On the topic of committees, volunteering or someone else you know has a publica- Classical, and Rhythm and Blues meeting for one of them affords an excellent oppor- tion that qualifies for one of our awards or rooms or downtown along Broadway and tunity to participate in the Society. There is eligible for a grant or fellowship, the award Second Avenue, where live music enticed is ample opportunity for those who are so committees want to hear from you. Chuck us into the many clubs and cafés. Those of minded; anyone who thumbs through the Atkinson announced at the Business Meet- you I saw as I walked through the Conven- Directories over the past decade can see the ing the names of the chairs to whom you tion Center had such enthusiastic things to dramatic increase in the number of commit- may send nominations or applications; they say about the superb quality of the papers tees. Ten years ago, we had twenty-one com- appear on our website and in the 2009 Direc- and sessions this year, and I was so pleased mittees with membership hovering around tory. You can also send your nominations to to have my own delight in the work we do a hundred, while we now have some thirty- Bob Judd or me, and we will forward them confirmed by all and sundry. The OPUS re- eight committees with nearly 225 members. to the appropriate committee chair. ception at the Country Music Hall of Fame, If we add the Council and the JAMS Edi- As you know, one of the most important our noon-time concerts, and performances torial Board members, this brings the total undertakings in which we can all participate by the Nashville Symphony, Vanderbilt Uni- is our OPUS Campaign. In this Newsletter, versity’s Blair String Quartet, and Fisk Jubi- Making the AMS a welcoming place for the Co-chairs of the campaign, Kern Holo- lee Singers all contributed to an especially everyone interested in the study of music man and Anne Walters Robertson, have giv- memorable meeting. en us all an eloquent report on our impres- Because our conference followed on the sive achievements in fundraising, particularly 320 heels of an historic presidential election, the to some members actively serving the regarding the NEH Challenge Grant. Allow excitement rose to even higher levels: this was Society. It is heartening to see the work that me to add my voice to the choir by extend- a momentous time both for our nation and our committee members do on behalf of ing my sincere thanks to the members who for our society. In my closing remarks at the the Society. Having read the reports and at- have donated so generously to our efforts. It Business Meeting and Awards Ceremony, I tended the Council and several committee is so important for us to work together to spoke about how important it is that we all meetings in Nashville, I was both extremely meet this challenge, but in order to succeed, become involved in the life of our own orga- impressed with the level of participation by we need the help of the entire membership. I nization. Caught up in the political rhetoric our members and moved by the dedication I urge you all to contribute whatever you can, of the moment, I even said, “This is your So- saw. If you have not as yet served and want to in whatever amount, to the campaign. ciety and you can make a difference” . and become involved in a meaningful way, please On behalf of the Society, let me take this I meant it! We too can work for change as volunteer for a committee assignment. The opportunity to express our heartfelt thanks to our Society goes forward.