Gilded Age Music in Newburgh, New York
This project has applied for grant from THE AWESOME FOUNDATION in order to make it possible.
 
William Fullerton, Jr. (1854-1888) and Ulysses J. Alsdorf (1872-1952) were both Newburgh citizens who made important contributions to music during the Gilded Age, but their story is largely unknown, and their music no longer published. Fullerton house owner Michael Green has offered the historic Newburgh home of “Willie” to host an event to share their music and stories. In order to reach a wide and diverse audience the event will be accompanied with a series of short articles/multimedia materials to be posted across a variety of social media platforms. 
 
The event will be designed and implemented by SUNY Dutchess Community College professor Dr. Christopher Brellochs as part of his sabbatical project, “Music of the Gilded Age in the Hudson Valley,” where he researches the music and stories of this time and presents period music in its authentic historical settings. Dr. Brellochs has already presented pieces of music by Alsdorf at Crawford House (May 12, 2018) and Fullerton at Lyndhurst Mansion (December 11, 2018), but relishes an opportunity to conduct further research and present an event at Fullerton house that showcases these Newburgh composers.
 
The event will include a lecture and musical performances by vocalists Dr. John Howell (a current Newburgh resident who performed at the Lyndhurst event), along with pianist Dr. Cynthia Peterson (from the Crawford House event) and saxophonist/project founder Dr. Christopher Brellochs. 
 
COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT
 
By promoting Newburgh’s rich artistic history, this event strives to engage an interfaith, intergenerational, and interracialpublic by bringing them together to experience stories and music in one of the beautiful 19thhomes that still exist in Newburgh, and learn about two prominent members of that community. Dr. Brellochs has already contacted members of The Historical Society of Newburgh Bay & The Highlands and Saint George’s Episcopal Church who have agreed to cosponsor/support this project; interestingly, Saint George’s was the Fullerton family church and still has a Tiffany stained-glass window, which was donated by the family. 
 
Mount Saint Mary’s theatre and music program has been contacted about collaborating, and music faculty at SUNY Orange County Community College and Newburgh Free Academy (which the Alsdorfs attended) will also be contacted; in the past Dutchess Community College has sponsored performing arts awards for Newburgh Free Academy students and this event promises to build upon that relationship.
  
ONLINE REACH
 
In order to reach as many people as possible and maintain a historical resource for the future, Dr. Christopher Brellochs will create material that discusses and illustrates the music of two of Newburgh’s prominent composers. Numerous platforms will be utilized including:
The Historical Society of Newburgh Bay & The Highlands’ website and Facebook page
Dr. Christopher Brellochs’ website
Music of the Gilded Age Facebook Page
 
Links to this material will be shared widely.
 
IMPACT: Forge collaborations with community partners and engage area residents to experience the beauty of Newburgh’s music and architecture, and raise awareness of the success achieved in this culturally significant Hudson Valley city.
 
The grant will be used to:
(1) support further research and development of a program of Fullerton’s and Alsdorf’s music 
(2) tune the piano at Fullerton house
(3) provide an honorarium for the musicians
 
The proposed timetable:
(1) January – February research & promoting of event through social media and other mediums
(2) March (or possibly April) event/performance 
 
ABILITY TO SUCCESSFULLY EXECUTE: “Music of the Gilded Age in the Hudson Valley” has demonstrated the ability to present similar projects at,
Crawford House - https://youtu.be/wZSJQkIZKXw
Boscobel House & Gardens - https://youtu.be/8Pt5D-G13hI
Lyndhurst Mansion - https://youtu.be/-5RwKxvmOPI
 
ORIGINILAITY: This unique combination of scholarly research, musical performance, and story-telling allows people to hear music from 100-150 years ago in a physical setting of the same time period; being immersed in this way informs and deepens the emotional impact of the experience. 

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BOOSEY & HAWKES

Sheet music for Aaron Copland's "QUIET CITY" (restored chamber version), concert adaptation by Christopher Brellochs, is available.