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Tempesta di Mare presents Revolution Tunes
DATE: Saturday 5/9/26 TIME: 5:00pm - 6:30pm
Location: Charles Knox Smith Hall, 9201 Germantown Avenue
with John Walthausen, historic keyboards
Harpsichordist, John Walthausen plays music from the Francis Hopkinson Collection of Music, one of the most important sources of early American music and Philadelphia’s early history. Hopkinson, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, amassed a treasure trove of harpsichord music from both the “old” and “new” worlds. From country dance to tunes from Highland reels and Philadelphia hymns, this recital will provide a glimpse into the popular music at the time of America’s founding.
Revolution Tunes is one of the events in Tempesta di Mare’s Soundtrack of Independence, celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. This dynamic project brings the music of the founding era vividly to life, from songs and dances heard in bustling taverns to refined works performed in drawing rooms and revolutionary gatherings. Soundtrack of Independence showcases the diverse influences that shaped a new nation—English ballads, Scottish reels, and emerging American compositions—revealing how music fueled community, political expression, and a growing cultural identity. Performed on period instruments and grounded in rigorous research, these concerts illuminate the powerful role music played in forging an American voice at a pivotal moment in history.