Classical Guitar Recital: “In the Nature of Materials”                          

A musical portrait of Frank Lloyd Wright presented by guitarist and Wright enthusiast – Stephen Morrison. The guitar provides a versatile and passionate voice in this intimate setting, portraying and revealing highlights of Wright’s life and influences. Music from around the world of great variety, character and substance that is insightful as well as entertaining. Music from Wales (his ancestry), Beethoven (affinity and inspiration), Japan (a significant early influence), Sojourn to Europe (contemporary innovations), Americana (mid-west, Carl Sandberg) and a personal impression/experience of “Fallingwater” in electronic sound composed by the performer. An enticing programme reflecting on the Nature of Materials for an engaging evening of music! 

“To my young mind music spoke a language that stirred me strangely and, as I have since learned, music is the language beyond all words – of the human heart.” 

“The striving for entity, oneness in diversity, depth in design, repose in the final expression of the whole – all these are there in common pattern between architect and musician.”  

        -From an Autobiography 

Stephen Morrison

Stephen Morrison is a native of Uniontown, Ohio. A longtime student of the eminent guitar teacher Ray Chester, Stephen is a graduate of the Peabody Conservatory (B.Mus. M.Mus. in guitar performance). He was appointed as guitar instructor at the Peabody Conservatory and Preparatory music schools of the Johns Hopkins University as well as the Levine School of Music in Washington D. C. and the Friends School of Baltimore. 

While studying at Peabody, Stephen became a lifelong enthusiast and admirer of Frank Lloyd Wright having first visited Fallingwater between semesters during a summer holiday when he and a friend bicycled and camped from Baltimore to Mill Run to visit “the house on the waterfall”. He has visited many times since (as well as many other sites) and it has almost become a pilgrimage for him to visit this extraordinary region of the country. Frank Lloyd Wright has been a constant and endless source of inspiration through the architect’s evolving artistic theories, achievements and connection to and with Nature. 

In 1989 Stephen permanently moved to Scotland with his Scottish wife and has a rewarding and fulfilling career teaching and performing the classical guitar.