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The Ingenious Mr. Hopkinson - A Life in Words & Musick

Wednesday, April 29 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Photo credit: An image of Francis Hopkinson's Book Plate. Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts. University of Pennsylvania.

Morven and the Historical Society of Princeton are pleased to present a musical evening exploring the life and works of NJ signer of the Declaration of Independence, Francis Hopkinson.

Francis Hopkinson, a member of the Continental Congress and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, was also an inventor, designer, accomplished poet, and multi-talented musician, credited as the first native composer of the United States. This lecture/performance, led by The Practitioners of Musick’s John Burkhalter, will include a rich and diverse selection of music, the same repertory owned and enjoyed by Hopkinson in printed and manuscript copies that survive to this day.

This program will be offered in person in Morven’s Stockton Education Center. Refreshments to be served. 

Morven is proud to offer this program in partnership with the Historical Society of Princeton.

About the Performers

Soprano REBECCA MARIMAN is a specialist in Baroque repertoire and has appeared with many early music ensembles including Fuma Sacra, Artek, Brandywine Baroque, Tempesta di Mare, Dryden Ensemble, and The Practitioners of Musick. Ms. Mariman’s passion for historical drama includes her appearance with Brandywine Baroque in a production of “The Woodman” by William Shield, a rare 18th century comic opera gem. Ms. Mariman is also a member of the Carmel Bach Festival Chorale where she has performed annually as an actor for the Family Concert at the California Festival. Rebecca Mariman earned her BA in theatre from Dickinson College and her Master’s in voice from Westminster Choir College of Rider University.

JOHN BURKHALTER, recorders, studied early music at the New England Conservatory with Daniel Pinkham and Baroque performance with Frans Bruggen at Harvard University. He has lectured for the Princeton Festival, American Handel Society, Yale Center for British Art, and the Horniman Museum (Dolmetsch Collection) in London. Mr. Burkhalter also performs with Riverview Consort, Brandywine Baroque, Early Music Princeton (University) and the ensemble Les Agrements de musique. He regularly performs in various English Country Dance Bands in association, most notably, with the Germantown Colonial Assembly of Philadelphia and New York City’s 92nd Street Y. 

DONOVAN KLOTZBEACHER, organ and harpsichord, studied organ at the University of Minnesota under Heinrich Fleischer and continued his musical studies under Mary Krimmel and George Markey at Westminster Choir College of Rider University. He has performed throughout the Northeast as a harpsichordist and appeared in a series of New Jersey Network [NJN] broadcasts featuring period music in 18th century houses and taverns in the state. For many years he has been Director of Music at the historic First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury, New Jersey.

About the Practitioners of Musick

The Practitioners of Musick ensemble was founded to survey the musical riches of 17th and 18th century Great Britain and Ireland and the Colonial and early Federal periods in America. The ensemble has recently provided music for a new free audio tour hosted by Revolutionary NJ sites in The Crossroads of the American Revolution historic area . In addition, The Practitioners have presented or supported scholarly programs under the auspices of the National Park Service, the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, the National Trust of Great Britain, Fund for Irish Studies at Princeton University, Historic Deerfield, Colonial Williamsburg, Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Princeton University Art Museum, The New Jersey State Park Service, New York State Historical Association, The Holland Society of New York, New Jersey Historical Society, Princeton University Library, Ireland House of New York University, Museum of the American Revolution, the Yale Center for British Art , and the Irish Georgian Society amongst many others.