The late 1770s saw Williamsburg reach a critical point in the American Revolutionary War, with the capital moving to Richmond in 1779. As the tides shifted in Virginia, the American colonies as a whole experienced an entirely new type of keyboard: the piano. Unlike most of its ancestors, the piano was capable of producing dynamics through touch. The novel keyboard was quickly acquired by Williamsburg’s citizens like Robert Carter, Lord Dunmore, and Ann Barraud. Join Kyle Collins from Governor’s Musick as he explores the waning influence of the Virginian capital against the waxing popularity of the revolutionary square piano.
Other Experiences
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Special Event: Williamsburg Military Tattoo
Guest units join the Colonial Williamsburg Fifes & Drums for a thrilling torch-lit march down Duke of Gloucester Street.
Open to the Public
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Performance: Visit with Marquis de Lafayette
Step into the past with the Marquis de Lafayette, French hero of two worlds. Through stories and questions, explore the hopes, choices, and challenges he faced.
CW Admission
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Historic Organ Recital - Norman Elton
Norman Elton, organist at Williamsburg Presbyterian Church, gives a recital on the Historic English Chamber Organ, one of Colonial Williamsburg's 18th-century instruments.
Open to the Public