Lectures
2023: March 29: “Secret Science and Piano Experiments: The Discovery of Harmonics,” St. John’s College, Santa Fe, NM
January 27: “Understanding Understanding,” St. John’s College, Santa Fe, NM.
2022: December 8: Los Alamos Library Talk about Sounding Bodies
November 10: Harvard Science Book Talk on Sounding Bodies: Music and the Making of Biomedical Science with Logan McCarty
November 9: “Sounding Bodies: Music and the Making of Biomedical Science” at St. John’s College in Santa Fe, NM
2021: September 21–22: the Della Pietra Lectures at the Simons Center for Geometry and Physics: “Music and the Making of Modern Science”; “Music, Number, and Space”
May 1: “Music and the Making of Modern Science,” the 2021 Brother Robert Smith Lecture at Saint Mary’s College of California
2020: Video lecture/concert of Bach and Messiaen: “Voice of Sky, Voice of Earth:Music and Time”
2019: December 2: “Music and the Making of Modern Science and Medicine,” Dibner Library Lecture at 5:00 pm at the Ripley Auditorium of the S. Dillon Ripley Center at the Smithsonian Library, Washington DC
2018: December 2. “Polyphonic Minds and Cubist Jazz,” Entertaining Science! at the Cornelia Street Café New York NY 6:00 pm.
December 1. Roundtable on “The Beauty and Unity of Mathematics,” Helix Center New York, NY 2:30 pm
November 8: “Polyphonic Minds: Music of the Hemispheres,” 6:30 pm Ghost Ranch Education Center, Abiquiu, NM, presented by the Los Alamos Public Library.
January 31. "Polyphonic Minds," St. John's College, Santa Fe, NM
2017: October 26. Colloquium on "Music and the Making of Modern Science," Department of Physics and Astronomy, Michigan State University.
2017: April 1. Keynote speech on "The Liberal Sciences: Asking Questions and Student-Centered Learning." Conference on "The Liberal Pursuit of Nature: Science, Humanities, and Liberal Education." Providence College, Providence, RI.
2017: March 19. Lecture on "Polyphonic Minds." Faculty of Music, Cambridge University.
2017: March 18. Lecture on "Idée Fixe: Music and the Prehistory of Monomania." Conference on "After Idealism: Sound as Matter and Medium in the 19th Century." Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Studies and Humanities (CRASSH), Cambridge University.
2017: February 18: Lecture on "Kepler and Music: The New Cosmic Polyphony." Keplerfest, St. John's College, Santa Fe, NM.
2016: September 15: Lecture on "Musical Glasses," Max Planck Gesellschaft, Berlin, Germany
2016: August 8: Seminar on "Music and the Making of Modern Science," Santa Fe Institute
2016: April 15: Keynote speech on "Music and the Making of Modern Science: The Liberal Arts and their Children," Association for Core Texts and Courses, Atlanta, Georgia
2016: April 1: Keynote speech on "Music and the Making of Modern Science," conference on "Music, Science, and Nature" at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
2016: March 9: Lecture on "Music and the Making of Modern Science," Department of Physics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
2016: January 22: Lecture on "Music and the Making of Modern Science," Department of Physics, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
2015: May 6: Lecture on "Music and the Making of Modern Physics," Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California at Santa Barbara.
2015: April 10, noon: Lecture on "Music and the Making of Modern Science" at Bard College, NY.
2015: January 24, 2:30 pm: book reading on Music and the Making of Modern Science at the St. John's College Bookstore, Santa Fe, NM
2014: Departmental Seminar for the Department of History of Science, Harvard University, on "The Song of the Blood: Music, Melancholia, and Sonic Diagnosis."
2014: Lecture on "The Polyphonic Mind" for the Department of Philosophy, Catholic University of America
2013: Colloquium on “Max Planck’s Cosmic Harmonium,” Department of Physics, Harvard University.
2013: Workshops on “Teaching Science through Dialogue and Discussion," Department of Physics, Harvard University.
2012: Lecture on “Leonhard Euler: Music and the Mathematics of Sadness” for joint meeting of the Modern and Early Science Working Groups, Harvard University.
2011: Lecture on “Persona, Law, and Divinity: The Origins and Significance of the Concept of Personhood” for seminar on Classical Traditions, Mahindra Humanities Center, Harvard University.
2010: Lecture on “Polyphonic Minds: Music and the Mystery of Consciousness” for seminar on Cognitive Studies and the Arts, Mahindra Humanities Center, Harvard University.
2010: Lecture and concert for conference on “The Long Nineteenth Century: Time, History, Culture” at Yale University.
2009: Lecture for Department of Comparative Literature and Early Sciences Working Group, Harvard University; Paul Leonard Lecturer in Philosophy, University of Nevada at Reno.
2008: Ronald James Alexander Memorial Lecturer on Musicology, Stanford University, Lecture for Department of Music, Harvard University.
2006: General Dynamics Distinguished Seminar Series, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
2004: Lecture for Department of Physics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
2003: Lawrence and Joyce Dorr Lecturer, University of North Carolina, Asheville
Concerts
2024:
May 5: Samuel Barber: Canzone (with Reese Matthews, ‘24, flute); Excursions, op. 20; Nocturne, op. 33; Piano Sonata, op. 26. 4:00–5:00 pm. St. John’s College, Santa Fe, NM.
April 21: Chopin: Preludes, op. 24. 4:00–5:00 pm. St. John’s College, Santa Fe, NM.
March 3: Beethoven, Sonata for piano, op. 106 (“Hammerklavier”). 4:00–5:00 pm. St. John’s College, Santa Fe, NM.
February 18: Elliott Carter, Piano Sonata (1944–46); Debussy: D’un cahier d’esquisses and Syrinx (Reese Matthews, ‘24, flute). 4:00–5:00 pm. St. John’s College, Santa Fe, NM.
February 4: Brahms: Ballades, op. 10, and Fantasies, op. 116. 4:00–5:00 pm. St. John’s College, Santa Fe, NM.
2023:
November 12: Charles Ives, “The Alcotts” and “Thoreau” from Second Piano Sonata (“Concord, Mass.), with Reese Matthews, ‘24, flute; Aaron Copland: Three Moods; Piano Variations. 4:00–5:00 pm. St. John’s College, Santa Fe, NM.
2022:
December 10: Gabriel Fauré: Nocturnes 7–13. 4:00–5:00 pm. St. John’s College, Santa Fe, NM.
November 19: Gabriel Fauré: Nocturnes 1–6. St. John’s College, Santa Fe, NM.
May 6: Gabriel Fauré: Piano Works III. Nocturnes 9–13. St. John’s College, Santa Fe, NM.
April 1: Gabriel Fauré: Piano Works II. Nocturnes 6–8, Barcarolle 2. St. John’s College, Santa Fe, NM.
March 4: Gabriel Fauré: Piano Works I. Nocturnes 1–5, Barcarolle 1. St. John’s College, Santa Fe, NM.
January 28: ‘Music as Science and Expression”: Frescobaldi: Recercar cromaticho; Ligeti, Musica ricercata; Bach: Partita No. 6. St. John’s College, Santa Fe, NM.
2021:
September 22: “Music and Science: Birds, Stars, and Research.” Simons Center for Geometry and Physics: Works by Messiaen, Cage, Frescobaldi, Ligeti, and J. S. Bach.
September 10: “Music and Science: Birds, Stars, and Research” St. John’s College, Santa Fe, NM. Works by Messiaen, Cage, Frescobaldi, Ligeti, and J. S. Bach.
September 1: “Music and Science: Birds, Stars, and Research” Fuller Lodge, Los Alamos, NM. Works by Messiaen, Cage, Frescobaldi, Ligeti, and J. S. Bach.
2020:
Video lecture/concert of Bach and Messiaen: “Voice of Sky, Voice of Earth:Music and Time”
March 11: St. John’s College, Santa Fe, NM: Beethoven: Bagatelles, op. 126; Schubert: Moments musicaux, op. 94
2019:
November 20: St. John’s College, Santa Fe, NM: Beethoven: Sonata, op. 90; Schubert: Impromptus, op. 90
October 9: St. John’s College, Santa Fe, NM: Stravinsky: Complete music for solo piano,
April 12: St. John’s College, Santa Fe, NM at 7:30 pm: Nature, Science, and Magic: Messiaen: L’alouette lulu; Bach: Contrapunctus 1, 7, 14 from Art of Fugue: Ligeti: Omaggio a Frescobaldi; Ravel: Gaspard de la Nuit (poems recited by Alain Antoine)
March 1: St. John’s College, Santa Fe, NM: Bach: Contrapunctus 8–10 from Art of Fugue; Stravinsky: Five Fingers; Piano Rag Music: Chopin: Écossaises, op. 72; Introduction and Rondo, op. 16
January 18: St. John’s College, Santa Fe, NM: Bach: Contrapunctus 5–7 from Art of Fugue; Stravinsky: Sonate; Chopin: Variations on “Je vends des scapulaires”; Rondo “à la Mazur,” op. 5.
March 1: St. John’s College, Santa Fe, NM: Bach: Contrapunctus 9–12; Stravinsky: The Five Fingers; Tango; Chopin: Funeral March; Ecossaises, op. 72; Introduction and Rondo, op 16.
May 3: St. John’s College, Santa Fe, NM: Bach: Contrapunctus 13–14; Stravinsky: Four Études, op. 7; Piano Rag-Music; Chopin: Souvenir de Paganini; Allegro de Concert, op. 46.
2018:
November 2: St. John’s College, Santa Fe, NM. Bach: Contrapunctus 1–4 from Art of Fugue; Stravinsky: Sérénade en la; Chopin: Andante spianato; Tarantelle, op. 43
May 4: St. John's College, Santa Fe, NM. Chopin: Bolero, op 19; Ravel: Sérénade grotesque; Gaspard de la nuit
April 6: St. John's College, Santa Fe, NM. Ravel: Prélude; À la manière de Borodine; Chopin: Sonata in B minor, op. 58
March 2: St. John's College, Santa Fe, NM. Chopin: Fugue in E minor; Adagio in C minor; Études, op. 25 nos. 9, 11; Ravel: Le tombeau de Couperin.
2017:
October 20: St. John's College, Santa Fe, NM. Ravel: Valses nobles et sentimentales; Chopin: Rondo, op. 1, and Variations on a German Air
May 5: St. John's College, Santa Fe, NM. Ravel: Menuet antique; Jeux d'eaux; Chopin: Études and Fantasia, op. 49
March 3: St. John's College, Santa Fe, NM. Ravel: A la manière de Chabrier; Sonatine; Chopin: Études, Berceuse, op. 57, and Barcarolle, op. 60.
January 20: St. John's College, Santa Fe, NM. Ravel: Pavane; Miroirs; Chopin: Nouvelle étude, no. 1.
2016:
September 15: Max Planck Gesellschaft für Wissenschaftsgeschichte, Berlin: "Music, Science, and Nature" (Works by J. S. Bach, François Couperin, John Cage, Maurice Ravel, and Olivier Messiaen)
May 6: St. John's College, Santa Fe, NM: Debussy: Danse bohemienne; Berceuse héroique; Élegie; Études (complete)
April 2: Festival on Music, Science, Nature at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill: John Cage: Etudes Australes VIII; J. S. Bach, Ricercar à 6.
March 4; St. John's College, Santa Fe; Chopin: Sonata in B-flat minor, op. 35 (“Funeral March”); Études, op. 25 nos. 5, 7, 8, 11; Debussy: La plus que lente; Morceau de Concours; Hommage à Joseph Haydn; Études 4, 6, 7, 8
January 29: St. John's College, Santa Fe, NM: Chopin: Sonata no. 1 in C minor, op. 4; Études, op. 25 nos. 1, 2, 6, 10; Debussy: Études 1, 2,3, 5
2015:
October 2: St. John's College, Santa Fe, NM, with Robert Marcus, clarinet. Beethoven: Sonata, op. 30 no. 1; Reger: Sonata, op. 107; Lutoslawski: Dance Preludes.
May 1: St. John's College, Santa Fe, NM. Debussy: Images Book II; Chopin: Scherzo in E major, op. 54; Fantasie-Impromptu in C-sharp minor, op. 66.
April 9: Bard College, New York. J. S. Bach: The Goldberg Project: Fourteen Canons on the Goldberg Bass (BWV 1086) and the Goldberg Variations (BWV 997). In Bard Hall at noon.
April 3: St. John's College, Santa Fe, NM. Debussy: Préludes Book II (7–12); Chopin: Scherzo in C-sharp minor, op. 39; Impromptu in G-flat major, op. 51.
April 1: The Fuller Lodge, Los Alamos, NM. J. S. Bach: The Goldberg Project: Fourteen Canons on the Goldberg Bass (BWV 1086) and the Goldberg Variations (BWV 997).
March 6: St. John's College, Santa Fe, NM. Debussy: Children's Corner; Chopin: Scherzo in B-flat minor, op. 31; Impromptu in F-sharp major, op. 36.
2014:
December 3: St. John's College, Santa Fe, NM. Debussy: Préludes Book II (1–6); Chopin: Scherzo in B minor, op. 20; Impromptu in A-flat major, op. 29.
October 29: St. John's College, Santa Fe, NM. Debussy: Valse romantique; Masques; L'isle joyeuse; Chopin: Ballade in F minor, op. 52
September 26: Catholic University of America, Washington, DC. J. S. Bach: The Goldberg Project: Fourteen Canons on the Goldberg Bass (BWV 1086) and the Goldberg Variations (BWV 997).
July 24: St. John's College, Santa Fe, NM. Stravinsky: Sérénade en La; Bartók: Six Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm;
July 15 & September 17: St. John's College, Santa Fe, NM. J. S. Bach: The Goldberg Project: Fourteen Canons on the Goldberg Bass (BWV 1086) and the Goldberg Variations (BWV 997).
May 9: St. John's College, Santa Fe, NM. Debussy: Mazurka (1891); Chopin: Études op. 10, no. 9–12; Debussy: Images book I (1905).
April 18: St. John's College, Santa Fe, NM. Debussy: D’un cahier d’esquisses (1903); Chopin: Études op. 10, no. 5–8; Debussy: Estampes (1903); Chopin; Ballade in A-flat major, op. 47
February 14: St. John's College, Santa Fe, NM. Debussy: Réverie; Danse; Ballade (1890); Chopin: Études op. 10, no. 1–4; Debussy: Pour le piano (1896–1901); Chopin: Ballade in F major, op. 38
January 24: St. John's College, Santa Fe, NM. Debussy: Préludes Book I.