Book Review in JAMIS: Piano Playing Revisited: What Modern Players Can Learn from Period Instruments, by David Breitman
Published Book review by Anne Acker in JAMIS (Journal of the American Musical Instrument Society), vol XLVIII (2022), 293-296
of David Breitman: Piano Playing Revisted: What Modern Players Can Learn From Period Instruments. Eastman Studies in Music Series: Rochester, NY: University of Rochester Press, 2021. xxi + 206 pp.; many black and white illus. ISBN:978-1-648-25010-1.
Reviving Nannette Streicher, Part 2: The 1816 piano replica project
The second part of the article about the process of my completing the replica of an 1816 Nannette Streicher fortepiano, begun by my friend and colleague Margaret Hood before her too early passing appeared in the March 22, 2022 issue of The Piano Technicians Journal.
Reviving Nannette Streicher, Part 1: The 1816 Streicher piano replica project
Published in The Piano Technicians Journal (vol. 65, no. 2, Feb. 2022, pp 15-18): The first half of an article I wrote about my journey in completing a replica of an 1816 fortepiano by the famed piano builder Nannette Streicher that was begun by a mentor and friend, Margaret Hood, but who sadly passed away too young before its completion. Interestingly, the veneer of Cuban mahogany comes from a log, gifted to me by a Miami sculptor in my days there, that I sent to Margaret and that she sawed herself for the veneer. Now it has come back to me. The instrument debuted at the Boston Early Music Festival in 2019 and is now part of my personal collection.
Goliards Christmas Concert 2021, December 19, 2021
On Dec. 19 in the afternoon, I greatly enjoyed playing positive organ and hurdy gurdy with The Goliards under fearless leader, vielle player and arranger John Hillenbrand, at The Collegiate Church of St. Paul’s, 1802 Abercorn St., Savannah, Georgia to a fine, warm audience on a bleak damp winter afternoon. The gut strings behaved quite well. Other performers were Marcy Brenner, gamba, and singers Mac Fogle, Cuffy Sullivan, Verity Sullivan, and Fiona Sullivan .
Book Review in JAMIS: WIlliam Hettrick. The American Piano Industry: Episodes in the History of a Great Enterprise
Book review in Journal of the American Musical Instrument Society, vol. XLVII, 2021, pp. 199-202 of William Hettrick. The American Piano Industry: Episodes in the History of a Great Enterprise. Hillsdale, NY: Pendragon Press, 2020. American Music and Musicians Series 8. ISBN 2020910304..
mentioned in New York Times Article “The Woman who Built Beethoven’s Pianos
Anne was pleased to consult and be mentioned by notable writer Patricia Morrisroe in her November 6, 2020 New York times article about Nannette Streicher and her pianos. You can even find a photo of the replica Nannette Streicher piano from 1816 begun by Margaret Hood and completed by Anne.
Article in JAMIS special AMIS at Fifty: “The Right Stuff? Material changes for New and Antique Musical Instruments”
Anne was very pleased to be invited to contribute to the special American Musical Instrument Society’s 50th anniversary issue resulting in her article “The Right Stuff? Material changes for New and Antique Musical Instruments”, which considers the issues and changes in the materials that go into and even the redefinition of what constitutes a musical instrument, as well as issues of endangered species and restricted toxic components.
Journal of the American Musical Instrument Society: supplement to Volume XLVI: 2020/21
Video of Anne performing Bach B Minor Mass on harpsichord
Please enjoy this video of Anne playing the Bach B Minor Mass on an AMD French Single Harpsichord with the Wesley Monumental Choir and orchestra, 2018.
Anne interviewed in international journal The Diapason
The “In the Wind” regular feature in the February 2021 issue of the The Diapason (February 2021) features the early 19th century piano maker Nannette Streicher, her pianos and Beethoven, and the women who made a replica of an 1816 Streicher grand, begun by Margaret Hood and completed by Anne Acker. Anne was interviewed for the article.
Read the article on the Diapason website or as a PDF.
Inaugural Concert of 2021 Acker harpsichord commissioned by Central United Methodist Church of Florence, SC
Savannah Baroque Members Anne Acker, harpsichord and Marcy Brenner, viola da gamba and tenor viol will play works by anonymous, Dowland, Kerll, Froberger, Marais,Sweelinck, Bach, and Vivaldi and others, for the inaugural concert of the 2021 Acker harpsichord commissioned by Central United Methodist Church of Florence, SC. In person limited attendance. 265 West Cheves Street, Florence, South Carolina 29501 | p: 843-662-3218 April 17, 2021 Central United Methodist Church 265 West Cheves St. Florence, SC 29501 3 p.m.