Music of the Romantics

I apologize for being a major slacker and neglecting this post for so long. Earlier this month, the Musical Instruments department held another concert, called "Music of the Romantics," featuring the museum's 1838 Conrad Graf fortepiano. It didn't escape me that I was one of the youngest people there, by far, but I already know my interest in art and history is shared by more of my elders than peers.

Pianist Yi-heng Yang, who is concurrently pursuing her Masters degree in fortepiano in the early music department of the Amsterdam Conservatory and her doctoral degree in piano performance at The Julliard School. She played three beautiful pieces by Beethoven, Schumann and Chopin. The experience of listening to instrument that was made around the same time the music was composed was such a pleasure. I felt transported to a time when musical instruments served a more prominent role in our leisure activities, before the internet, TV and movies, before radio.

The musical instruments concerts are a unique feature at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, they offer an entertaining and informative look at the sometimes forgotten Musical Instruments Collection. This exquisite facet of the Met's diverse collection marries the worlds of visual and musical arts, and the superb craftsmanship of each and every instrument is remarkable.