DESCRIPTION:
The history of the cross-cultural interaction between American composers and Japan is documented in unpublished and published scores, manuscripts, and correspondence held, often uniquely, in the Music Division of the Library of Congress. In this lecture, W. Anthony Sheppard examines examples of this relationship in the works of Henry Eichheim (1870-1942), Claude Lapham (1890-1957), Henry Cowell (1897-1965), and Roger Reynolds (b. 1934)who each traveled to Japan and approached the creation of modern music in ways profoundly influenced by their experiences.

W. Anthony Sheppard is a Professor of Music at Williams College. In addition to his research interest in images of Japan in American music, he also explores general American music history, opera and musical theater, and film music analysis.

For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5127.