Lectures and Lecture Recitals

Anne-Elise Keefer specializes in entertaining and humorous presentations that enlighten audiences by putting music in its historical and social context.

Anne-Elise Keefer has presented lectures in music appreciations at:

The University of Western Ontario

• Faculty of Music, History Department
• Faculty of Continuing Education
• Alumni Association
• Senior Alumni Association
• Elderhostel

Universtiy of British Columbia

• Faculty of Continuing Education

North Shore School Board, North Vancouver, B.C.

Richmond School Board, Richmond, B.C.

Celebrity Cruises (as a Guest Enrichment Lecturer)

• Cruise Ship "Horizon"
• Cruise Ship "Mercury"

Lecture formats:

Anne-Elise can give lectures:

• In a classroom format
• Lecture recital with unaccompanied flute
• Lecture recital with flute accompanied by piano, harp or guitar.

Sample Lecture Topics:

A Fleet of Flutes

An entertaining introduction to a variety of flutes from around the world, featuring short performances on a golden concert flute, a tiny piccolo, a huge alto flute, an 18th century wooden baroque flute, a Celtic flute, South-American pan-pipes and Chinese bamboo flutes.

Musical Murder Mysteries

Intriguing tales of famous composers from Mozart to Tchaikovsky, their contemporaries and their mysterious deaths. Was Mozart poisoned, did Tchaikovsky commit suicide, why did Haydn's skull get lost, was Wagner's royal patron murdered? You'll find out!

Baroque Time-Travel

Be transported to the palaces of 18th century Europe with informative historical tidbits and delightful selections of music played on original baroque and classical flutes. Hear Bach, Handel and Couperin the way they were supposed to sound, and imagine the ornate salons where their music was first heard!

Music Fit for a King

Find out the story of fascinating relationships between musicians and famous monarchs from King Henry VIII to Frederick the Great and Queen Victoria, illustrated by brief interludes on historical flutes.

"It's Not Over 'Til the Fat Lady Sings"

A delightful overview of the history of opera, complete with famous disasters, humorous anecdotes, and short arrangements of popular operatic tunes on flute.

How do I Know When to Clap?

Enlivened by a variety of short selections on flute, you'll enjoy this amusing introduction to the sometimes daunting world of classical music. After you learn about its mysterious etiquette, its secret language and the scary black dots on the page, it'll finally be safe to go back in the concert hall!

"Piece in the Form of a Pear" The Architecture of Music

Classical music jargon can be off-putting. Find out what a sonata is, how a fugue works and the difference between a minuet, gavotte and a bourree.

Secret Lives of the Great Composers

An entertaining and informative look at famous composers' lives, from Bach to Debussy. Enjoy gossipy scandal and delicious morsels of your favourite music.

Folk Songs from Around the World

A flute and guitar lecture recital featuring a variety of beautiful folk songs from Celtic lands, Spain, Latin-America and Japan.

If Music Be the Food of Love

A flute and harp lecture recital featuring romantic musical classics interspersed with tales of the loves of famous composers.