Areas of Expertise
Women in Early Music; Antebellum American Musical Culture; Historical Performance Practice
Email: montgovi@brandeis.edu
Current Project
I am preparing a book and CD entitled “Brilliant Variations on Sentimental Songs: Slipping Pianistic Virtuosity and Invention into the Antebellum Drawing Room.” Piano variations on popular songs were embraced by lady performers and composers in nineteenth-century American domestic settings. Examination shows the genre’s unique place in shaping female cultural values, and promoting musical accomplishment.
Biography
Vivian Montgomery is an award-winning fortepianist and harpsichordist and recipient of a Solo Recitalist Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. She earned her Bachelor and Master Degrees in Early Keyboards from the University of Michigan, and received the DMA in Historical Performance from Case Western Reserve University in 2007. Her performing life encompasses work with her acclaimed ensemble, Cecilia’s Circle and chamber, concerto and solo recitals at many venues across the US. Her recordings can be found on Centaur, Innova, and Schubert Club. Vivian has served as Music Director for the baroque opera company Ex Machina, the CWRU Baroque Orchestra, and the Dickinson College Collegium. Since 2003, she has been on the faculty of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, teaching harpsichord and historical performance. She was a visiting faculty member at Dickinson College, and has also taught at Vanderbilt University, Luther College and the University of Massachusetts-Boston. Vivian’s work as a Visiting Scholar at the WSRC has been supported by a fellowship from the American Association of University Women.
Education
D.M.A., Case Western Reserve University
M.M., University of Michigan
B.Mus., University of Michigan
Representative Publications
Montgomery, Vivian. “Thy Hand Hast Done All This: Music of Elisabeth-Claude Jacquet de La Guerre” (Cecilia’s Circle, Centaur Records)
Montgomery, Vivian. “Songs in the Ground: Variations and Other Renewable Notions for Recorder and Harpsichord” (Galhano/Montgomery Duo, Ten Thousand Lakes Records)
Links
Curriculum Vitae
Cecilia's Circle
Faculty Page at the University of Cincinnati
John Morrison CD Releases
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