The
1996 Chautauqua Tea
This year's Chautauqua Tea will take place at 3 p.m. on June 13 at the West T. Hill Theatre, located at 117 Larrimore Lane. The concert is entitled, "Grand Recital: A Tribute to Francis Johnson." The program will be presented by Steve Charpie of Los Angeles.
Francis "Frank" Johnson was a true founding father of American music.
Johnson (1792-1844) was a native Philadelphian, and was the first African-American to publish music in this country. He was the first American of any color to tour Europe as a musician, and among his other "first" accomplishments was perhaps his most important, responsibility for the first [documented] integrated music performances in the United States!!
Johnson was a virtuoso keyed bugle performer. This brass instrument was patented in 1810, and is essentially a bugle with what appears to be saxophone-type keys. The entire recital will be performed on this instrument and will feature historic keyed bugles from the Joe Utley collection. Among these instruments will be the keyed bugle made of tortoise shell, one of only two in the world!! The other is displayed at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. This will be the first time this instrument has been heard in performance in this century.
Additionally, rare sheet music frontispieces of Johnson's music will be displayed during the performance.
Danville's own deputy fire marshall, Wendell Boyd, will "perform" in this concert in a special tribute to the Fire Department. Boyd will also give a few historic notes about the relationship of the fire department to Francis Johnson. The entire recital/lecture will be performed on the keyed bugle.
Special thanks to Steve Charpie for this information.
