Right to left or left to right? Composers of the Jewish Italian Renaissance had to navigate between cultures, classes, and languages. In this series, which features the earliest published music in Hebrew, we will explore how the arts were used during the Italian Renaissance to promote understanding and appreciation between two distinct cultures. “Harmonizing Two Worlds” is a three-class intensive led by Dr. Emily Isaacson, artistic director of Classical Uprising, Dr. Vivian Montgomery, professor of historical performance at Longy School of Music of Bard College, and Louis Miller, Cartographic Reference and Teaching Librarian at Osher Map Library and Smith Center for Cartographic Education.

Schedule

• Thursday, June 6

• Session 1: 10:00-11:30 a.m. - USM Wishcamper Rm 133

• Session 2: 1:30-3:15 p.m. - Osher Map Library

• Thursday, June 13

• Session 3: 12:30-1:30 p.m. - USM Wishcamper Rm 133

Session 1: Introduction

When Isabella d’Este of Ferrara married Francesco Gonzaga of Mantua, it was like a Kennedy marrying a Bush. Together, they turned Mantua into the seat of royal luxury and the artistic zenith of Europe. Learn about the history, politics, and artwork of the Mantuan court, and why, despite religious segregation, Jewish artists thrived. 

Session 2: Judaica

Co-hosted by the Osher Map Library and Smith Center for Cartographic Education, see how maps, artwork, and Judaica track the societal and artistic developments of the Italian Renaissance. 

Session 3: Right to left or left to right?

How do you set Hebrew to music when Hebrew reads right to left and music reads left to right?  Award-winning harpsichordist and scholar Dr. Vivian Montgomery examines  the logistical and artistic complexities of “Songs of Solomon” by Salomone Rossi (1570-1630), the earliest known published collection of liturgical music in Hebrew. 

Participation in this series is free. To register, call the OLLI office at 207-780-4406. Attendance is limited to 50 participants for the three-part workshops (you must register for all three). Hosted in partnership with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and the Osher Map Library and Smith Center for Cartographic Education. 

This series leads up to the Portland Bach Experience salon Eudaimonia: Harmonizing Two Worlds, on Thursday, June 13, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. at the Maine Jewish Museum. Seminar participants will receive a discount code to purchase tickets for the salon.