Society for the Propagation of the Music of the Chemist-Composers

An informal association of those devoted to propagating the music of chemist-composers whose membership includes Chemist-Composers, Chemist-Performers: professionals and amateurs, Chemist-Listeners, Non-Chemist-Performers: professionals and amateurs, and Non-Chemist-Listeners.

In April, we celebrate two birthdays of chemist-composers: Elaine L. Bearer, April 1, and Georges Urbain, April 12. The next performance of The Nicholls Trio: A Musical Biography of a Scientist by Elaine L. Bearer is for the Bruce Alberts Birthday Symposium, Genentech Hall, San Francisco April 11, 2008

A very interesting paper by one of our members, Santiago Alvarez, “Music of the elements,” appeared in New Journal of Chemistry, 2008, I32, 571-580. In addition to discussing the music devoted to the elements, four or five, for example, Les Ếléments, by Rebel (1666-1747), pieces dedicated to individual elements, there is some about chemist-composer, Georges Urbain. He has also published, “Té música la quimica”, in the Bulletin of the association of chemists of the Balearic Islands (Quimi Bal col Laboració) 2008, SIS-SET. It is in Catalan, but it has a discography at the end that may be of interest. If you wish a reprint, please contact santiago@qi.ub.es.

A paper about chemist-composers has been published: May, L., “The lesser known chemist-composers, past and present,” Bull. Hist. Chem., 2008, 33, 35-43, which includes the chemistry, music, and biography of E. L. Bearer, George Berg, Carlo Botteghi, Edward W. Elgar, Morris Kates, Georges Urbain, and Emil Votoček. If you wish a reprint, please contact may@cua.edu.

A bibliography of books and papers about chemist-composers is available.

The membership of SPMCC is now 21 from Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Spain, Sweden, UK, and USA. Members include two chemist-composers, six chemist-performers, twelve chemist-listeners, and one non chemist-performer. There are fifteen *Volunteers who send announcement of the anniversaries of chemist-composers to local classical radio stations including 3 non- members. Seventeen people have expressed an interest in purchasing a CD of the music of the chemist-composers.

Do you have a friend or fellow chemist who might be interested to join the SPMCC (no fees required)? Please have the friend complete the answer form below and return it to may@cua.edu:

Name:

E-mail Address:

Membership: Chemist-Composer, Chemist-Performers: professionals and amateurs, Chemist-Listeners, Non-Chemist-Performers: professionals and amateurs, or Non-Chemist-Listeners?

I volunteer to send notices to local radio stations:

I am interested in purchasing a CD of music of the chemist-composers:

Date:

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List of Chemist-Composers and Birthdays

Elaine L. Bearer; Biochemist Chemist-Composer; April 1

George Berg, Amateur Chemist-Composer (~1720-1775)

Aleksandr P.Borodin; Organic Chemist-Composer; November 24

Carlo Botteghi; Industrial Chemist-Composer; March 5

Edward Elgar, Amateur Chemist-Composer; June 2

Lejaren A.Hiller, Jr.; Polymer Chemist-Composer; February 23

Morris Kates; Biochemist Chemist-Composer; September 30

Georges Urbain; Inorganic Chemist-Composer; April 12

Emil Votoček; Organic Chemist-Composer; October 5

Leopold May, Chemist-Listener

Society Manager

E-mail: may@cua.edu

SPMCC Website: http://faculty.cua.edu/may/SPMCC.htm

SPMCC Newsletter No.7 October, 2007

April 7, 2008