Thursday, June 3, 2010

BCHS to Host "The Music of World War II," June 18

The Bradford County Historical Society will host a free program entitled "The Music of World War II" scheduled for June 18, 2010 at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Although the event is free, participants are asked to register by calling 570-265-2240 or by email at info@bradfordhistory.com.

Presented by Dr. Phillip Atteberry, this presentation examines the most popular song genres of World War II — propaganda songs, work songs, army life songs, separation songs and reunion songs. Through a “musical” PowerPoint presentation, Atteberry asks audiences to consider how these songs, at times, reflected the attitudes and morale of the moment and how they, at times, shaped those attitudes and morale. The Music of World War II includes excerpts from well known standards as well as period pieces that have become obscure.

Dr. Philip Atteberry has taught seminars in jazz and American popular music for the last ten summers at the Chautauqua Institute. He also teaches the History of Jazz at the University of Pittsburgh at Titusville and hosts a popular weekly radio program, “Sunday Night Jazz,” on WQLN-FM, Erie’s public broadcasting station. Atteberry holds a Ph.D. in English from Washington University-St. Louis.

This program is made possible by the Pennsylvania Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Free refreshments will be provided and the museum will be open from 5:30 until the program begins.

Other programs scheduled for 2010 include: The Barns and Agriculture of Pennsylvania’s Northern Tier, July 16; Stephen Foster: Father of American Music, August 19 (note this program will be held on a Thursday evening); Canton: Circus Capitol of the East, September 17; and The Frisbie Family of Orwell Township: A 19th Century Saga of Bradford County and Beyond, October 15.

The Bradford County Historical Society is a recipient agency of PHMC and the Bradford County United Way. For more information about the society and its programming schedule, visit www.bradfordhistory.com or check out the Bradford County Historical Society Facebook page.