The Keyboard Works of William Herschel

Saturday, May 15th, 2027, London

A one-day symposium at St. Botolph without Aldgate.

Organizers: Margaret-Mary Sauppé, DMA, Organist; Sarah Waltz, Ph.D., Musicologist

In recent years, there has been a growth of interest in the keyboard music of William Herschel (1738–1822) among musicians and academics, resulting in new editions of his music and a decent number of online music recordings. As a way of bringing academics, performers, and Herschel historians together, this symposium will examine Herschel’s organ and larger keyboard works from analytical, organological, and historical perspectives. The goal of this symposium is to deepen appreciation for the artistic side of Herschel’s life and works, and to promote more performances of his keyboard music.

We would welcome papers that include or relate to the following topics:

A history of the period 1765-1782, as it pertains to Enlightenment arts and sciences

An overview of Herschel’s musical life, with a focus on his organ and larger keyboard works

A discussion of the organs Herschel would have played

Special attention directed to Herschel’s harpsichord works

An analysis of Herschel’s organ works within the context of Georgian British organ music

The relationship between Herschel’s musical and scientific thinking

Approaching the performance of Herschel’s organ works from the perspective of historical performance practice

A playing demonstration of Herschel’s music, with explanations touching on the above concepts

Participation in the final organ concert at the end of the day

Paper presentation and performance lecture slots are expected to be approximately 30-40 minutes, with time included for audience questions. Submissions should include a brief biography of approximately 150 words and a one-page abstract describing the nature of the proposed paper.

Organists interested in playing a piece by William Herschel for the final concert should email the organizers directly.

For submissions, questions, and other inquiries, please contact Margaret-Mary Sauppé or Sarah Waltz. Submissions can also be made directly to the website

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Lundi 9 Novembre, 2026