"A Fine Romance: Jewish Songwriters, American Songs" is a traveling exhibit about the contributions of iconic Jewish songwriters such as Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein to the great "American Songbook" during the period 1910-1965.
It opens at the James Branch Cabell Library Jan. 19 and is free and open to the public.
The best songwriters of this time combined a genius for melody, a talent for pairing it with the perfect words, and an ability to connect with a wide audience. A high percentage of them were Jewish, from families that had immigrated to America in the 1800s or fled pogroms and persecution in Europe at the turn of the century. Their sophisticated and romantic songs--"Body and Soul," "Over the Rainbow," "That Old Black Magic," "It Had to Be You"--became beloved classics of American popular culture.
VCU Libraries and various co-sponsors are offering these companion programs in connection with the exhibit.
Exhibition Web site
FREE SPECIAL EVENTS
The exhibit and events are sponsored by the VCU Libraries, the Friends of the Library, the VCU Center for Judaic Studies, Richmond Public Library, and Beth Ahabah Museum and Archives.
"A Fine Romance" was developed by Nextbook, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Jewish literature, culture, and ideas, and the American Library Association Public Programs Office. The national tour of the exhibit has been made possible by the Charles H. Revson Foundation, the Righteous Persons Foundation, the David Berg Foundation, an anonymous donor, and Tablet: A New Read on Jewish Life.
It opens at the James Branch Cabell Library Jan. 19 and is free and open to the public.
The best songwriters of this time combined a genius for melody, a talent for pairing it with the perfect words, and an ability to connect with a wide audience. A high percentage of them were Jewish, from families that had immigrated to America in the 1800s or fled pogroms and persecution in Europe at the turn of the century. Their sophisticated and romantic songs--"Body and Soul," "Over the Rainbow," "That Old Black Magic," "It Had to Be You"--became beloved classics of American popular culture.
VCU Libraries and various co-sponsors are offering these companion programs in connection with the exhibit.
Exhibition Web site
FREE SPECIAL EVENTS
- "One Singular Sensation: The American Jew and the Musical Theater," a lecture by Dr . Jack Spiro, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012, 7:30 p.m., University Student Commons, Commonwealth Ballrooms, 907 Floyd Ave., Richmond.
- "America's Music: Funny, You Don't Sound Jewish," Klezm'Or'Ami'm, Feb. 4, 2012, 2 p.m., Richmond Public Library, 101 East Franklin St. , Richmond. This is part of the Gellman Concert Series.
- "Grasping Gershwin: The Man Behind the Music," a lecture by Dr. Patrick Smith, Feb. 9, noon, Room 250, Cabell Library
- "From Broadway, With Love," performance by Gianna Barone and Denver Walker, noon, first floor, Cabell Library
- "Jewish Women in the Arts" exhibition at Beth Ahabah Museum and Archives, 1109 W. Franklin St., Richmond, features Richmond songwriter Edith Lindeman Calisch. She penned "Red-Headed Stranger" and "Little Things Mean a Lot." The museum hours are Sunday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The exhibit and events are sponsored by the VCU Libraries, the Friends of the Library, the VCU Center for Judaic Studies, Richmond Public Library, and Beth Ahabah Museum and Archives.
"A Fine Romance" was developed by Nextbook, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Jewish literature, culture, and ideas, and the American Library Association Public Programs Office. The national tour of the exhibit has been made possible by the Charles H. Revson Foundation, the Righteous Persons Foundation, the David Berg Foundation, an anonymous donor, and Tablet: A New Read on Jewish Life.