Music & Dance   

The key to the creation of the great American musical was collaboration between black and white artists. This class puts the spotlight on the artistry and performances that are too often overlooked when chronicling one of this country’s unique legacies. As leading examples, Ken Stevens will discuss choreographer George Balanchine, who called for acclaimed dancers Fayard and Harold Nicholas to appear in the Rogers and Hart musical Babes in Arms, Bert Williams, who became one of the highest paid members of the Ziegfeld Follies, and Shelton Brooks, who wrote Sophie Tucker’s signature song “Some of These Days.”

Ken Stevens began his theater career in Cincinnati where he co-founded the Showboat Majestic and served as a Rockefeller Fellow at Playhouse in the Park and the University of Cincinnati. In 1972 Ken joined the faculty of Eastern Michigan University (EMU) where he created both the musical theater program and the graduate and undergraduate programs in arts management. Since retiring in 2014, he has resumed leadership positions for the Michigan Legacy Art Park at Crystal Mountain Resort and at Novi’s Villa Barr Art Park, and continues to supervise arts management interns at EMU.

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) wrote nearly 800 works and is considered to be one of the world’s greatest composers. Scott Yoo’s long-awaited PBS “Great Performances Now Hear This” docudrama, titled Beethoven’s Ghost, was just completed in 2021. It features several contemporary classical musical stars visiting a historic manor in the Massachusetts Berkshires to better understand Beethoven by performing and recording some of his most personal work, including his famous “Ghost Trio.” These musicians also seem to have summoned the ghost of the composer, who is trailed by the spirit of Sigmund Freud attempting to analyze him. Interweaving documentary, performance, and theatrical storytelling, this show explores the composer’s mind through dramatized conversations between the spirits of Beethoven and Freud. Following the video, we will view and hear several of Beethoven’s most beautiful works.  

Toby Teorey is the current Chair of the Elderwise Council. He is retired from the College of Engineering at the University of Michigan and in retirement pursues his enduring love of classical music and world culture.

Twelve years apart in age, Nathaniel Coles and Samuel Cook had much in common. Both were born in the Deep South, and both moved to Chicago as young children. Both attended Wendell Phillips High School in the heart of the Windy City’s “black belt.” Both found success as members of ensembles outside popular music (Cole with jazz, Cooke with gospel). And, both left their original music genres to launch solo careers in mainstream popular song. There, they both enjoyed immense fame and critical acclaim – but also struggled with racism. Both died young and tragically (Cole at 45, Cooke at 33). In this class Mike Homel takes us through the turbulent lives and magnificent music of two outstanding performers in post-World War II America.

(Please note the 9:30 a.m. start time of this class.)

     Michael Homel is Professor Emeritus of History at Eastern Michigan University. He specializes in 20^th century American history and American urban history. He is the author of Unlocking City Hall: Exploring the History of Local Government and Politics and other publications on urban politics and education.

In the late 19^th century, French composer Claude Debussy created a new musical language that critics called “Impressionism.” Using whole-tone scales, bold harmonies, and vague melodic structures, Impressionism sounded very different from prevailing styles and paved the way for 20^th century music. In this class, Professor Aldridge explores the life and innovative contributions of this fascinating composer, using examples from Debussy’s piano music including the beloved "Clair de Lune," chamber works, and orchestral compositions. This presentation includes a video performance of Debussy’s famous symphonic tone poem "La Mer."

Henry B. Aldridge is Professor Emeritus of Film Studies at Eastern Michigan University and a popular Elderwise presenter. He received his B.A. and M.A. degrees from the University of North Carolina, and his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. Professor Aldridge is an amateur musician and lifelong admirer of classical music. He regularly plays the Barton theater pipe organ at the Michigan Theater.