The New Esterházy Quartet

Haydn in America—The Moravian Heritage

The Moravian Brotherhood, persecuted descendants of 15th-century Czech religious dissidents, brought a rich musical culture to pre-Revolutionary America. The Moravian Music Foundation archive in Bethlehem and Winston-Salem catalogue thousands of musical works, for use in religious services and also for playing at home and in the Collegia Musica that were part of the settlements’ social life into the 19th century. Some of this music was composed by Moravian musicians themselves and some collected or copied from European sources. This program highlights Haydn Quartets performed from copies of handwritten parts or early editions brought by Moravian musicians to America in the 18th century. A talk and an exhibition on the history and influence of the Moravian communities in America accompany the concert.