Dr. Richard Shadinger, a professor of music who has been teaching graduate and undergraduate courses on music history and piano since joining Belmont’s faculty in 1974, recently published a book on the history of music on Belmont’s campus. The book, titled, “Music on the Beautiful Mountain: A History of Music at Belmont” chronicles the role that music has played on the property since it was first established as an estate by Joseph and Adelicia Acklen in the 1850s. From first being recognized as a college for young women in 1890, to merging with Ward Seminary in 1914, to being re-established as a co-educational university under the name Belmont College in 1951, the University’s campus has always been a setting that cultivates music and the arts. The book also discusses the impact of the historical, cultural and developmental changes that have occurred in Nashville over time on Belmont’s journey to becoming the school it is today.
Shadinger hosted a convocation event on March 22 to discuss his new publication and the experiences he has had while teaching. In addition to his book, Shadinger has also written numerous articles on church music, keyboard literature and hymnology for The Hymn, The Church Musician, The Piano Quarterly, Pedalpoint, the Tennessean, Handbells, Proclaim and The American Music Teacher. His current scholarship projects include hymnology and 18th and 19th century hymn and tune books.
