Genre in 18th-Century Music

Dates and Location

21–23 April 2006 in Williamsburg, Virginia

Registration

To avoid paying a late fee, please register by March 24. Click here for the registration form.

Lodging

Most of the paper sessions will take place at the Woodlands Hotel and Suites, operated by Colonial Williamsburg and located just north of the Historic Area. SECM has reserved a block of rooms at the hotel for April 20–22 (3 nights) at a rate of $129 per night plus 10% tax and an additional $2 per night occupancy tax. The rate is based on single or double occupancy, and includes a continental breakfast. Reservations within the US should be made by calling 800-261-9530 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time, and mentioning SECM. Outside the US, call 757-229-1000 and ask for conference registrations. One may also send a fax to 757-220-7729. Please note that these rooms are available at the conference rate only until March 17. After this date, they will be released to the general public. See below under “Events and Attractions” for discounted Colonial Williamsburg passes available to those staying at the Woodlands.

Those wishing to make alternative lodging arrangements may investigate possibilities at www.williamsburghotel.com.

Travel

By Air

Williamsburg is served by three airports: Newport News-Williamsburg International (20 minutes away; www.nnwairport.com), Richmond International (35 minutes away; www.flyrichmond.com), and Norfolk International (about an hour away; www.norfolkairport.com). Each airport has rental car and limousine services, and fares for the latter vary according to distance. From Newport-News-Williamsburg, Williamsburg Limo (757-877-0279) charges $26 per passenger (or $40 roundtrip). From Richmond, Groome Transportation (804-222-7222) charges $40 per passenger (or $25 for two more passengers). And from Norfolk, Norfolk Airport Express (757-857-3991), charges $69 per per passenger. All prices are as of March 1. For further details, please call the shuttle services directly; more transportation options are listed at the airports’ websites.

Driving to the Woodlands Hotel and Suites

From Interstate 64, take exit 238 onto Route 143 East. Follow Route 143 to the second traffic light and bear right onto Route 132. Continue on Route 132 following signs to the Visitor Center. At second left, turn onto concrete aggregate road, Route 132Y. Turn at the first left; the Woodlands Hotel & Suites is at the top of the hill. (757) 220-7960. Street Address: Woodlands Hotel and Suites 105 Visitor Center Drive, Williamsburg, VA 23185.

By Train or Bus

Amtrak serves the Williamsburg Transportation Center with a connecting train from Washington, D.C. The center is just blocks from the Historic Area and provides car rentals, a cab stand, and Greyhound Bus connections.

Click here to download a pdf map of the Williamsburg area (ca. 283 KB).

Events and Attractions

Colonial Williamsburg

All attendees staying at the Woodlands Hotel and Suites are eligible to purchase discounted passes to the Historic Area. The passes are valid from Thursday through Sunday, and are available for $15 apiece when you register for the conference. This represents an extraordinary value, and because the conference schedule is relatively tight, attendees may wish to consider arriving on Thursday to take full advantage of the many sights and activities. Click here to download a map of the Historic Area (ca. 904 KB). For a full list of attractions, visit www.colonialwilliamsburg.org. Further information on the Williamsburg-Jamestown-Yorktown area may be found at www.visitwilliamsburg.com

Tour of Keyboard Conservation Lab

On Friday morning, from 10:00–11:30, keyboard restorer John Watson will give a presentation and free tour of his workshop. This behind-the-scenes glimpse of Colonial Williamsburg is not open to the public, and is limited to twenty conference attendees on a first-come-first-served basis. Make sure to reserve your place on the registration form.

Malcolm Bilson Fortepiano Recital

On Saturday evening at 7:30, Malcolm Bilson will perform at the Williamsburg Regional Library on two English-style instruments: a recently-restored 1816 Broadwood owned by the College of William and Mary, and a copy by Chris Maene of a 1799 Longman and Clementi. Admission to the recital is free to conference attendees. Mr. Bilson’s program will include:

Cramer: Eleven Variations on “Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen” from Mozart's Magic Flute
Dussek: Fantasy and Fugue in F minor
Haydn: Sonata in C major, Hob. 50
Clementi: Sonata in F minor, Opus 13/6
Mozart: Sonata in F major, K. 332

The Broadwood piano was made by John Broadwood and Sons in 1816, the year before the same firm shipped an identical piano to Vienna for Ludwig van Beethoven. The instrument, owned by the College of William and Mary, was recently restored by Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, and is receiving its formal inauguration on this occasion. The piano has a six-octave compass (CC-c'''') and three strings per note throughout the range. The three pedals include an una corda and a damper pedal which is split for separate control of bass and treble dampers. A handstop sets the left pedal to operate as una corda, or due corde.

College of William and Mary

The College of William and Mary is located within walking distance of Colonial Williamsburg, and will host SECM’s Saturday afternoon paper session and pre-concert reception. During the reception, conference attendees will be able to view a specially-assembled exhibit of eighteenth-century materials. Among the College’s historic attractions are the Sir Christopher Wren Building (1695-99), the oldest academic building in continuous use in the United States; the Brafferton (1723); and the President’s House (1732). Click here to download a map of the campus (ca. 198 KB).