Dickinson Music Professors Headline Recital at American Philosophical Society
Photo by Stephen Munchel.
Musical collaboration brings a 'unique fusion of scholarship and artistry'
by Tony Moore
Professor of Music Jennifer Blyth and Associate Professor of Music James Martin recently took center stage as pianist and baritone in a special recital at the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia, a performance attended by President John E. Jones III ’77, P’11, and his wife Beth P’11.
The event, hosted in partnership with the National Constitution Center, featured two original song cycles composed by Jeffrey Rosen, the center's president and CEO, and Dickinson Visiting Professor of Music Gregory Strohman. The event served as the launch for Rosen's new podcast, Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to Happiness, co-hosted with renowned historian and documentarian Ken Burns. Each episode of the podcast will focus on a different Founder and a different virtue.
Blyth joined Martin in performing “The Golden Mean: Songs for the Pursuit of Happiness,” while Rosen himself performed the second cycle, “Twelve Titans: Songs of the Greek and Roman Gods and Goddesses.” The program drew inspiration from Rosen's acclaimed book, The Pursuit of Happiness, which explores how the Founding Fathers viewed happiness. The audience comprised 200 in-person attendees and 600 watching the livestream. It was also the first full recital recorded and aired by CSPAN.
The faculty involvement stems from recordings Blyth and Martin made this summer, which will bookend each episode of the podcast, blending music with discussions on the Founders' philosophies.
“This recital was an offshoot of those recordings and represents a unique fusion of scholarship and artistry,” Blyth says, explaining that the project began when she discovered Rosen had written melodic sonnets matching the chapters of his book, emphasizing the Founders' belief that true happiness comes from doing good rather than merely feeling good.
Blyth's participation was supported by a grant she received last spring for public-facing scholarship, allowing her to bridge academic research with accessible performances. The collaboration traces back to November 2024, when Rosen visited Dickinson to deliver a talk on Franklin, Jefferson and John Dickinson's shared views on happiness and freedom. There, he attended a recital by Martin, featuring art songs by Black American composers, with Blyth at the piano.
Looking ahead, Blyth plans to bring an expanded version of the recital to Dickinson's campus in February 2026, incorporating more references to Benjamin Rush and Dickinson, under the title "Freedom Is Made Safe ..." Rosen, who is authoring a new book with chapters on both figures, will join to speak on their legacies.
Rosen, Martin, Jones and Blyth (from left) pose together following the performance. Photo by Stephen Munchel.
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Published September 3, 2025