Classic Ross Amico

Tag: Princeton University

Princeton Pro Musica to Revive Frank Lewin’s Kennedy Requiem at Princeton University Chapel

As teased in yesterday’s post, here’s my article in the Princeton weekly U.S. 1, out today.

I really wanted to write about Princeton composer Frank Lewin and his “Mass for the Dead (Requiem for Robert F. Kennedy).” The work will be revived by Princeton Pro Musica at Princeton University Chapel on Saturday, May 9, at 4 p.m., as part of an all-American concert, which will also include Leonard Bernstein’s “Chichester Psalms.” The Requiem was first heard there 57 years ago, during a memorial service for RFK, in 1969.

As an added bonus for me, I got to interview the composer’s daughters, radio host Naomi Lewin, whose syndicated show, “Classics for Kids,” follows my light music show “Sweetness and Light,” Saturday mornings on KWAX; and her sister, documentary filmmaker Miriam Lewin, who once worked at the Opera Company of Philadelphia, where I briefly interned in the ‘90s (after she had already left), and who has the distinction of having introduced supertitles to opera.

I must say, this is the quickest turnaround, from submission to publication of a piece, I ever experienced. Usually, arts writers are requested to get their work in days in advance. For U.S. 1, I think it’s usually about a week. But this an interim editor. Once production hits a bump or I exceed my quota by a million words, maybe the deadline will get pushed up. As it stands, I’m pretty happy with it.

Physical editions of the paper are available in vending machines and at local businesses through next Tuesday. But if you just can’t wait, you can always access the article here:

https://www.communitynews.org/princetoninfo/artsandentertainment/princeton-pro-musica-revives-frank-lewin-s-requiem-for-rfk/article_c6c148b4-1539-4ced-b932-109339bf7b26.html

PHOTOS: Frank Lewin (seated) prepares his Kennedy Mass with soprano Sylvia Jones and tenor Leo Goeke; RFK funeral train passes through Princeton Junction on June 8, 1968

April 29, 2026
Stravinsky’s Requiem Canticles Premiere at Princeton

Igor Stravinsky’s late, serial masterwork, “Requiem Canticles,” was given its first performance at McCarter Theatre in Princeton on this date in 1966. It would be the composer’s last major work. (Only his setting of Edward Lear’s “The Owl and the Pussycat” followed.) Stravinsky described the 15-minute, six-movement piece, which is sung in Latin, as his “pocket requiem.” The work would be performed at the composer’s funeral in 1971. It was also played at the funeral of J. Robert Oppenheimer, who attended the premiere.

I wrote about its first performance in 2016, its 50th anniversary, for an article for the Trenton Times, somewhat limited by word count and by the fact that I was tying it in with two Stravinsky concerts to be held at Princeton University – neither of which, disappointingly, included “Requiem Canticles” – but I did get some interesting information from my interview subjects, both eyewitnesses who were working at McCarter in 1966.

There’s conflicting information as to who exactly conducted “Requiem Canticles” on that occasion, the composer or his assistant, Robert Craft. My sources maintain that it was Stravinsky himself.

If you’re interested, you can find the article archived here:

https://www.nj.com/times-entertainment/2016/12/classical_music_puo_pugc_so_pe.html

Robert Craft’s 2005 recording of “Requiem Canticles”

Recording of the actual McCarter premiere (thanks to Mather Pfeiffenberger)

PHOTO: Stravinsky (right) and Robert Craft in 1964

October 8, 2025
Tim Keyes’ Consort Celebrates 30 Years

Tim Keyes’ day job is that of Pastoral Assistant of Music and Liturgy at the Catholic Church of St. Charles Borromeo in Skillman, NJ. But he’s also a prolific composer of oratorios, symphonies, concertos, film scores, chamber music, instrumental works, and choral pieces. His most recent work, “The Pool,” completes a triptych of sacred oratorios inspired by episodes from the Gospel of John. With its first performance at Princeton University’s Richardson Auditorium this Saturday at 8 p.m., the group of musicians Keyes directs, the Tim Keyes’ Consort, will celebrate 30 years.

The orchestra and chorus are made up of professional and amateur musicians. Mentorship is central to the Consort’s mission. Saturday’s concert will open with a work by Rutgers Mason Gross student Amelia Cunningham, “Irish Overture,” and Ithaca graduate Kathryn Dauer will return to conduct Keyes’ “Adagio.” Read more about it in my article in the Princeton weekly U.S. 1, out today.

https://www.communitynews.org/princetoninfo/artsandentertainment/three-decades-three-oratorios-for-tim-keyes/article_20876a40-2d2a-4e8a-8799-c8901ac4b582.html

June 11, 2025
Joan Lippincott Legendary Organist Remembered

Somehow, I am the last to learn of the passing of Joan Lippincott. But just in case I’m not, Lippincott, who was so much a part of the fabric of the local music community, as a student and later a professor of organ at Westminster Choir College and the Curtis Institute of Music and, for a time, principal organist at Princeton University, died on May 31 at the age of 89.

Here’s an appreciation, with reminiscences and an obituary, shared by one of her former students.

Legendary Joan Lippincott

And another, from current University Organist at Princeton University, Eric Plutz.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10163013703036215&set=a.155434051214

Over the years, I played her recordings for the Gothic Records label on my radio shows. R.I.P.

June 4, 2025
Paul Robeson Passover Princeton Birthday

Paul Robeson for Passover.

Happy birthday to Princeton’s own!

April 9, 2025

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