Norwich presents two presentations by music historian and author

For Immediate Release
Oct. 15, 2010

Contact: Daphne Larkin
802-485-2886 or 595-3613(m)
dlarkin@norwich.edu

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ADVISORY

NORTHFIELD, Vt. – Nationally recognized music historian and author, Michael Lasser, will give two presentations on music from the era of World War II later this month.

On Tuesday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. Lasser will present “Walking Alone: The Love Songs of World War II” at the Kellogg Hubbard Library in Montpelier. He will discuss how popular songs reflected what was happening in peoples’ hearts and lives during that era.

And on Wednesday, Oct. 27 at noon Lasser will present “Music and World War II: God Bless America and White Christmas” at Norwich’s Sullivan Museum and History Center in Northfield. He will share Irving Berlin’s two famous songs, which embodied and shaped American attitudes and were written for a world about to go to war.

Both presentations are free and open to the public, and the Sullivan Museum event includes lunch.

Since 1980, Lasser has hosted the nationally-syndicated public radio show, “Fascinatin’ Rhythm,” winner of a 1994 Peabody Award for letting “our treasury of popular tunes speak (and sing) for itself with sparkling commentary, tracing the contributions of the composers and performers to American society.”

He is the former theater critic for The Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. For nearly 25 years Lasser has spoken at museums and universities across the nation including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Smithsonian National Museum of American Art. Lasser is here for the public Lunch N’ Learn programs at the Sullivan Museum and History Center at Norwich University. In conjunction with its special fall exhibition, The Role of Remembrance: Norwich University and WWII, a series of programs are being offered that share more information about the WWII period.

Lasser is co-author of the book America’s Songs: The Stories behind the Songs of Broadway, Hollywood and Tin Pan Alley, which will be on sale at both events.

For additional information or directions call Sullivan Museum Director Marilyn Solvay at 802-485-2448. The fall special exhibition, The Role of Remembrance: NU and WWII, is on view at Norwich University in the Sullivan Museum from Monday – Saturday, 9 am – 4 pm through January 31, 2011.


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Norwich University is a diversified academic institution that educates traditional-age students and adults in a Corps of Cadets and as civilians. Norwich offers a broad selection of traditional and distance-learning programs culminating in Baccalaureate and Graduate Degrees. Norwich University was founded in 1819 by Captain Alden Partridge of the U.S. Army. Norwich University is the oldest private military college in the United States of America and the birthplace of our nation's Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). www.norwich.edu