Music and Muse: A Celebration of Phillis Wheatley Peters

Sunday, October 20, 2024

3:00 p.m.5:00 p.m.

Join us for an autumnal afternoon of music, poetry, and conversation on the lawn at Van Cortlandt House Museum for this debut collaboration of National Book Award-winning poet and musician Cornelius Eady and composer and musician Charlie Rauh as they celebrate the life and work of Phillis Wheatley Peters.

Admission is free and pre-registration is suggested, but not required.

The subject of the Mercy poetry cycle is Phillis Wheatley Peters, the first enslaved person in the American Colonies to publish a full-length volume of poems. She was captured when she was 7 or 8 years old, and the poems seek to capture the feeling of a young girl. Losing her native language and slipping on the language and customs of her owners, the struggle, the joy of achievement, and the contradictions we all still float inside today as a culture. 

- Cornelius Eady

My lullaby cycle, A Hymn To The Morning (Destiny Records), seeks to translate the dynamic beauty of Phillis Wheatley Peters’ poetry into music. Taking note of the nuanced language, symbolism, tone, and layered messaging within the literature - the music attempts to interpret rather than merely react. In this program that includes both solo guitar performances as well as open discussion, the focus is meant to remain on the essence of Wheatley Peters’ writing and how music can assist in sharing her singular voice. 

- Charlie Rauh

Location

Van Cortlandt House Museum in Van Cortlandt Park
Broadway at West 246th Street
Bronx
Directions to this location
Location Details:
Address for GPS: 6036 Broadway, Bronx, NY Van Cortlandt House Museum is located inside Van Cortlandt Park at Broadway and West 246th Street in The Bronx. There is a paved tree-lined pedestrian path leading from Broadway to the museum. Public Transportation: Subway: #1 to 242nd Street Station, then walk north on Broadway to the tree-lined pedestrian path leading into the park. Bus: Bx9 to West 246th Street and Broadway, then walk into the park on the tree-lined pedestrian path leading into the park. BxM3 Express Bus to 246th Street and Broadway, then walk into the park on the tree-lined pedestrian path leading into the park. Metro-North Hudson River Line to Marble Hill Station, transfer to the Bx9 bus or #1 subway as above. By Car: You can park in Van Cortlandt Park's free parking lot, which is a 5 minute walk on park trails from the museum (GPS Link) or you can pay for metered street-parking on Broadway

Cost

Free  

Registration

Admission is free and pre-registration is suggested, but not required.

Contact Number

718.543.3344

Contact Email

margaret@vchm.org

Categories

History, Accessible Activities

Additional Media

Related Information

Search Events

Time of Day
Categories
More Categories
Type