This list announces talks in the greater Boston area pertaining to the study of the early modern period ca. 1450-1750, in any discipline and with any regional specialization. Please forward announcements, in the format requested at the end of this message, and e-mail addresses to: earlymod@fas.harvard.edu.
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*New listing
** Updated listing
***CANCELLED Cancelled listing
EARLYMOD THIS WEEK
*Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016 - 4:30pm
The Massachusetts Center for Interdisciplinary Renaissance Studies
Five College Renaissance Seminar Series
Lecture, “Defoliating Playbooks and the Reading Public”
Peter Berek, Amherst College
Renaissance Center, Reading Room, UMass Amherst, 650 East Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01002.
This event is free and open to the public.
No reservations required.
*Friday and Saturday, Feb. 5-6, 2016 – Click here to view schedule
Sponsored by the Early Modern European History Workshop
Harvard-Princeton Graduate Conference in Early Modern European History
Lower Library, Robinson Hall, 35 Quincy St., Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
*RSVP to emework@fas.harvard.edu by Feb 1 if you plan to attend on Saturday 2/6
*Friday, Feb. 5, 2016 – 5:30pm (Performance Lecture); Feb. 6-7, 2016 – 2-Day Workshop
Annmary Brown Memorial, Brown University, 21 Brown Street, Providence RI.
Performance Lecture, "Songs from the Hesperides: Michael Maier's 1618 Musical Alchemical Emblem Book Atalanta Fugiens,”
Donna Bilak, Columbia University; and the solo voice ensemble Les Canards Chantants
A Performance Lecture exploring the sound and structure of Maier's seventeenth-century canons as encoded instructions for making the philosopher's stone.
This performance will be followed by a 2-day workshop on February 6-7 to explore how we might create a digital edition of the Atalanta Fugiens with an interdisciplinary perspective.
To join the workshop please register by January 22, 2016, by sending an email to Tara_Nummedal@brown.edu or Evelyn_Lincoln@brown.edu.
http://events.brown.edu/events/cal/CAL-00147cc4-522fee29-0152-31e7ead4-00002e10events@brown.edu/
*Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, 2:00 pm – 4:00pm
The Massachusetts Center for Interdisciplinary Renaissance Studies
Concert, First Sunday Concert Series
Erik Simon Vuoritie, UMass Amherst
Renaissance Center, Reading Room, UMass Amherst, 650 East Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01002.
Erik Simon Vuoritie will play a Renaissance Spanish guitar set. Refreshments will be available after the concert. Free and open to the public.
No reservations required. Please arrive on time as space is limited. Seating is first come, first served.
*Monday, Feb. 8, 2016 – Friday, February 12, 2016
The Massachusetts Center for Interdisciplinary Renaissance Studies
Laura Estill, (Texas A&M), Scholar in Residence at The Renaissance Center
Renaissance Center, UMass Amherst, 650 East Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01002.
Laura Estill of Texas A&M will be in residency at the Renaissance Center.
To make an appointment to meet during her office hours, please call 413-577-3600.
*Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016 - 5:30pm
105th George Parker Winship Lecture
Lecture, “Editing Shakespeare for the Digital Age”
Stephen Greenblatt, Harvard
Barker Center, Thompson Room, Harvard University, 12 Quincy Street, Cambridge, MA
The lecture will be followed by an opening reception at Houghton Library for Shakespeare: His Collected Works, a major exhibition to mark the
quatercentenary of Shakespeare’s death. The George Parker Winship Lecture Series is supported by the fund established
by former members of the John Barnard Associates
For details contact Monique Duhaime at: duhaime@fas.harvard.edu
*Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016 - 4:00pm
Sponsored by the Mahindra Humanities Center Seminar in Book History.
Talk, "Bibliography and Native American Bodies in the Revolutionary Era,”
Michael Kelly (Amherst College), followed by a comment by David Hall (Harvard University)
Room 133, Barker Center, 12 Quincy St, Cambridge, MA
*Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016 – 4:00pm
The Massachusetts Center for Interdisciplinary Renaissance Studies
Renaissance Wednesday Lecture Series
Lecture, "Finding Drama in Early Modern English Manuscripts"
Laura Estill, Texas A&M
Renaissance Center, Reading Room, UMass Amherst, 650 East Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01002.
Free and open to the public. Refreshments co-sponsored by The Amherst Woman’s Club.
No reservations required.
UPCOMING EVENTS (a star indicates a newly listed item)
*Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016 – 4:00pm
The Massachusetts Center for Interdisciplinary Renaissance Studies
Renaissance Wednesday Lecture Series
Lecture on Birdlife
Dan Ziomek, Hadley Garden Center
Renaissance Center, Reading Room, UMass Amherst, 650 East Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01002.
Free and open to the public. Refreshments co-sponsored by The Amherst Woman’s Club.
No reservations required.
*Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016 – 4:00pm
The Massachusetts Center for Interdisciplinary Renaissance Studies
Renaissance Wednesday Lecture Series
Lecture on Elizabethan music
David Gruender, Boston Symphony Orchestra
Renaissance Center, Reading Room, UMass Amherst, 650 East Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01002.
Free and open to the public. Refreshments co-sponsored by The Amherst Woman’s Club.
No reservations required.
*Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016 – 4:30pm
The Massachusetts Center for Interdisciplinary Renaissance Studies
Five College Renaissance Seminar Series
Lecture, “Shakespeare and the Auteurs: Rethinking Adaptation through the Director's Cinema”
Greg Semenza, The University of Connecticut
Renaissance Center, Reading Room, UMass Amherst, 650 East Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01002.
This event is free and open to the public.
No reservations required.
*Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016, 5:00pm
Sponsored by the Early Modern European History Workshop
Talk, “Luminous Reflections: Thoughts on Enlightened Illumination and Illuminating the Enlightenment"
Darrin McMahon, Dartmouth College
Basement Seminar Room, Robinson Hall, 35 Quincy St., Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
*Wednesday, Mar. 2, 2016 – 4:00pm
The Massachusetts Center for Interdisciplinary Renaissance Studies
Renaissance Wednesday Lecture Series
Lecture on 17th Century Northampton
Rob Cox, UMass Amherst
Renaissance Center, Reading Room, UMass Amherst, 650 East Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01002.
Free and open to the public. Refreshments co-sponsored by The Amherst Woman’s Club.
No reservations required.
*Wednesday, Mar. 2, 2016, 5:00pm
Sponsored by the Early Modern European History Workshop
Talk, “The Book of Magic: From Antiquity to Enlightenment”
Brian Copenhaver, UCLA
Basement Seminar Room, Robinson Hall, 35 Quincy St., Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
*Thursday, Mar. 3, 2016 - 5:30pm
Talk, "‘She had no children, suppose she had’: Childlessness in Early Modern England”
Amy Rodgers, Mount Holyoke
Room 133, The Humanities Center, Barker Center, Harvard University, 12 Quincy St., Cambridge, MA 02138
*Sunday, Mar. 6, 2016 – 2:00 pm-4:00pm
The Massachusetts Center for Interdisciplinary Renaissance Studies
First Sunday Concert Series
Concert, “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor” exhibiting music from the Elizabethan golden age, played by Seven Times Salt
Renaissance Center, Reading Room, UMass Amherst, 650 East Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01002.
Refreshments will be available after the concert. Free and open to the public. Please arrive on time as space is limited. Seating is first come, first served.
No reservations required.
*Monday, Mar. 7, 2016, 5:00pm
Co-sponsored by the Renaissance Colloquium of the English Department, the Mahindra Humanities Center Seminar in Book History and the Early Modern European History Workshop
Talk, "Writing Paper and Filing Systems in Early Modern English Households"
Heather Wolfe, Folger Shakespeare Library
Basement Seminar Room, Robinson Hall, 35 Quincy St., Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
*Wednesday, Mar. 9, 2016 – 4:00pm
The Massachusetts Center for Interdisciplinary Renaissance Studies
Renaissance Wednesday Lecture Series
Talk, “The Textual Cultures of Britain in 1633”
Helen Wilcox, University of Bangor
Renaissance Center, Reading Room, UMass Amherst, 650 East Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01002.
Free and open to the public. Refreshments co-sponsored by The Amherst Woman’s Club.
No reservations required.
*Saturday, Mar. 19, 2016 – 8am– noon
The Massachusetts Center for Interdisciplinary Renaissance Studies
Fundraiser, Annual Dakin Pancake Breakfast
Renaissance Center, Reading Room, UMass Amherst, 650 East Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01002.
The breakfast features syrup tapped from the Center’s own maple trees (a tradition begun by Janet Dakin) and donated by local sugarer Richard McIntyre.
This all you can eat breakfast features pancakes, sausage and bacon cooked up by volunteer chefs and served in the Reading Room. Suggested donation is $10 for adults and $5 for children.
No reservations required.
*Wednesday, Mar. 23, 2016 – 4:00pm
The Massachusetts Center for Interdisciplinary Renaissance Studies
Rare Book Show and Tell from the Center’s collections
Jeff Goodhind, librarian at The Massachusetts Center for Interdisciplinary Renaissance
Renaissance Center, Reading Room, UMass Amherst, 650 East Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01002.
Free and open to the public. Refreshments co-sponsored by The Amherst Woman’s Club.
No reservations required.
*Friday, Mar. 25, 2016 – 7:00pm – 9:00pm
The Massachusetts Center for Interdisciplinary Renaissance Studies
March Madness Renaissance Games Night
Renaissance Center, Reading Room, UMass Amherst, 650 East Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01002.
Come for an evening of Renaissance board games and puzzles, much like our annual Games Night in November.
However, get ready for a whole new level of competition when the evening gets sprinkled with trivia questions on Shakespeare.
Free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be available.
No reservations required.
*Tuesday, Mar. 29, 2016 – 4:00pm
The Massachusetts Center for Interdisciplinary Renaissance Studies
Annual Celebrity Lecture
Lecture, “What is ‘Early Music’ anyway, and why I like to perform ‘Historically Informed.’”
Alice Robbins, Five College Early Music Program
Renaissance Center, Reading Room, UMass Amherst, 650 East Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01002.
Free and open to the public. Refreshments provided after the lecture.
No reservations required.
*Wednesday, Mar. 30, 2016, 12:00pm
Sponsored by the Early Modern European History Workshop
Talk, "Neither Disobedients nor Rebels: Early Modern/Modern Arguments for Lawful Resistance between the Old and the New World”
Angela de Benedictis, University of Bologna
Lower Library, Robinson Hall, 35 Quincy St., Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
*Sunday, Apr. 3, 2016 – 2:00pm - 4:00pm
The Massachusetts Center for Interdisciplinary Renaissance Studies
First Sunday Concert Series
Early Modern music from the Robin Hood Legend
Performed by the Ensemble Musica Humana
Renaissance Center, Reading Room, UMass Amherst, 650 East Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01002.
Refreshments will be available after the concert. Free and open to the public.
No reservations required. Please arrive on time as space is limited. Seating is first come, first served.
*Monday, Apr. 4, 11, 18, and 25, 2016 - 4:00pm – 5:00pm
The Massachusetts Center for Interdisciplinary Renaissance Studies
Community Class, The Hand-Press Book with Jeff Goodhind
Jeff Goodhind, Renaissance Center Librarian
Renaissance Center, Reading Room, UMass Amherst, 650 East Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01002.
An introduction to early printed books including paper, typesetting, printing, illustration, and binding.
No knowledge of book history required. Class will take place in the upstairs classroom. Free and open to the public.
Please pre-register by calling 413-577-3600 or email renaissance@english.umass.edu by April 3rd.
* Monday, Apr. 4, 2016 - 5:30pm
Co-sponsored by Houghton Library, the Early Sciences Working Group and the Mahindra Humanities Center Seminar in Book History.
Talk, “The Newton Project and the development of a digital edition”
Scott Mandelbrote, Cambridge University
Houghton Library, Harvard Yard, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
*Thursday, Apr. 7, 2016 - 5:30pm
Marika Knowles, Harvard
Talk, “The Death of Women: Painting and Book Illustration in Seventeenth-Century France”
Room, 133, The Humanities Center, Barker Center, Harvard University, 12 Quincy St., Cambridge, MA 02138
*Friday, Apr. 8, 2016 – 9:00am – 5:00pm
Workshop, "God and the Philosophers in the seventeenth century”
A one-day workshop organized by Ann Blair and James Hankins for the Harvard Colloquium for Intellectual History featuring:
Lisa Downing, Ohio State University
Daniel Garber, Princeton University
Craig Martin, Oakland University
Jeff McDonough, Harvard University
Steven Nadler, University of Wisconsin Madison
Debora Shuger, UCLA
Please RSVP by April 4. To RSVP and for more information click the below link:
*Tuesday, Apr. 12, 2016 – 4:00pm
The Massachusetts Center for Interdisciplinary Renaissance Studies
Annual Dan S. Collins Lecture
William West, Northwestern University
Renaissance Center, Reading Room, UMass Amherst, 650 East Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01002.
No reservations required.
Tuesday, Apr. 12, 19, 26, and May 3, 2016 - 7:00pm – 9:00pm
The Massachusetts Center for Interdisciplinary Renaissance Studies
Community Class, Shakespeare with Tony Burton
Tony Burton, Renaissance Center Fellow
Renaissance Center, Classroom, UMass Amherst, 650 East Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01002
The Merchant of Venice: The issues aren't what you think. Please read the play beforehand. Free and open to the public.
Please pre-register by April 11th at 413-577-3600 or at renaissance@english.umass.edu
*Saturday and Sunday, Apr. 16 and 17, 2016 - 9:00am – 5:30pm
UMass Amherst College of Humanities & Fine Arts, UMass Amherst Department of Music & Dance, The Massachusetts Center for Interdisciplinary Renaissance Studies, Five College Early Music Program
Conference, Italian Madrigal Festival - Scholarly Symposium and Concerts
Alexandra Amati-Camperi (University of San Francisco),
Mauro Calcagno (UPenn)
Seth Coluzzi (Brandeis)
Catherine Deutsch (Univ. of Paris, Sorbonne)
Daniel Donnelly (McGill)
Giuseppe Gerbino (Columbia)
Anthony Newcomb (UC Berkeley)
Massimo Ossi (Indiana Univ. Bloomington)
Jessie Ann Owens (UC Davis)
Emiliano Ricciardi (UMass Amherst)
Laurie Stras (Univ. of Southampton)
Paul Schleuse (Binghamton, SUNY)
Chamber Choir and Illuminati, dir. Tony Thornton
April 16th: Renaissance Center, Reading Room, UMass Amherst, 650 East Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01002.
April 17th: Grace Church (14 Boltwood Ave, Amherst, MA 01002),
UMass Campus Center (1 Campus Center Way, Amherst, MA 01002),
Bezanson Recital Hall (Fine Arts Center, Umass Amherst, 01002).
Free weekend conference on the Italian Madrigal at UMass Amherst features scholarly papers at the Renaissance Center on the 16th followed by concerts and round tables on the 17th.
Keep checking www.umass.edu/renaissance for updated conference schedules and information on registration.
Tickets can be purchased at the door for the concerts.
*Monday Apr. 18, 2016 – 5:00 -7:00pm
Talk, "Books as Jews: The Burning of the Talmud, Paris 1241 and Rome 1553."
David Stern, Harvard University
Basement Seminar Room, Robinson Hall, Harvard University, 35 Quincy St., Cambridge, MA
*Saturday, Apr. 30, 2016 - 9:00am – 4:00pm
The Massachusetts Center for Interdisciplinary Renaissance Studies
Conference, Historical Swordsmanship Conference
Renaissance Center, Reading Room, UMass Amherst, 650 East Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Full-day conference with academic papers as well as swordsmanship demonstrations. Lunch will be provided. Free and open to the public.
Please pre-register by April 29th at 413-577-3600 or renaissance@english.umass.edu
*Sunday, May 1, 2016 – 11:00am – 4:00p.m.
The Massachusetts Center for Interdisciplinary Renaissance Studies
Festival, The 14th Annual Community Renaissance Festival
Various musical, theatrical, and experiential entertainment.
Renaissance Center, Great Meadow, UMass Amherst, 650 East Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01002.
We’ll have theater, music, falconry, juggling, sword demonstrations from Phoenix Swords, Renaissance games, artisans, dancing, and more! Costumes encouraged! Fun for the whole family.
Rain or shine. Plenty of on-site free parking. Food for sale from UMass concessions.
Admission is free although donations are welcome.
*Friday, May 6, 2016 – 4:00pm – 5:00pm
The Massachusetts Center for Interdisciplinary Renaissance Studies
Community Event, Sonnetfest
Members of the Renaissance Center Community
Renaissance Center, Reading Room, UMass Amherst, 650 East Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01002.
Our annual reading aloud of sonnets followed by white wine and strawberries.
Call the Center at 413-577-3600 to sign up to read a sonnet. Free and open to the public.
Please call the center at 413-577-3600 if you would like to read a sonnet.
*Thursday, May 12, 2016 – 4:00pm
The Massachusetts Center for Interdisciplinary Renaissance Studies
Community Event and Lecture, Normand Berlin Tree Dedication and Shakespeare,
Adam Zucker, UMass Amherst
Renaissance Center, Reading Room and Meadow, UMass Amherst, 650 East Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01002.
We will dedicate the new oak tree at the Renaissance Center in memory of Normand Berlin, who taught community classes on Shakespeare at the Renaissance Center.
The dedication will be followed by a lecture on Shakespeare delivered by Adam Zucker. A reception will follow. Free and open to the public.
*Saturday and Sunday, May 21 and 22, 2016 - 12:00pm each day
The Massachusetts Center for Interdisciplinary Renaissance Studies and The Young Shakespeare Players East
Performance of “Romeo and Juliet” by the
The Young Shakespeare Players East
Renaissance Center, Great Meadow Stage, UMass Amherst, 650 East Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01002.
Free and open to the public. Keep checking www.umass.edu/renaissance for updates on times.
No reservations required.
*Saturday, Jun. 18, 2016 – 1:00pm – 4:00pm
The Massachusetts Center for Interdisciplinary Renaissance Studies
Concert, Garden Opening Concert
Zoe Vandermeer, AyreCraft, and Nota Bene
Renaissance Center, Great Meadow, UMass Amherst, 650 East Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01002.
To celebrate the official opening of our gardens, we invite you to hear three concerts outside on the grounds of the Renaissance Center.
Guests may take refreshments outside to enjoy during the concerts.
No reservations are required.
Suggested donation of $5 per person.
*Monday, Jul. 11 – Friday, Jul. 15, 2016 – 9:00am – 3:30pm
The Massachusetts Center for Interdisciplinary Renaissance Studies
Summer Program, Kids Renaissance Summer (KRS)
Renaissance Center, Great Meadow, UMass Amherst, 650 East Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01002.
Kids ages 9 – 13 can experience different aspects of the Renaissance through an interdisciplinary summer day program.
Activities will include performing scenes from Renaissance theater, playing authentic Renaissance games, testing out historical recipes, writing their own sonnets, painting “en plein air,” and more!
The week will culminate in a performance where the kids can display their creations, perform their scenes, and read their very own sonnets for their friends and families.
Keep checking www.umass.edu/renaissance for more information on registration night and tuition.
*Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016 – 11am – 1pm
The Massachusetts Center for Interdisciplinary Renaissance Studies, Enchanted Circle Theater, and Holyoke Public Schools
Theater, Acting Shakespeare
Enchanted Circle Theater
Renaissance Center, Great Meadow, UMass Amherst, 650 East Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01002.
Student actors from Holyoke school system’s summer acting program will present scenes from a Shakespeare play, using the Hampshire Shakespeare Company’s main stage.
Stay for a light picnic lunch afterwards! Free and open to the public.
No reservations.
*If you would like to request that your announcement be posted in an upcoming Early Mod Events e-mail:
Please send your listing to: earlymod@fas.harvard.edu
It would be a great help if you could follow the format below.
To be included in the Early Mod Events mailing, the event must take place in the greater Boston area.
Announcements are posted at the discretion of the Early Mod Listserv administrator.
Day, date, time
Sponsor (if available)
Type of event (ex. Lecture/Symposium/Workshop), Event Title
Person giving talk (in bold), their home institution (if applicable)
Location (Building, Room, St., Address, Institution, City, State)
* Event must take place in the greater Boston area.
Additional info (no more than a couple sentences)
Website URL
RSVP or Registration information/link