At UB, a trip back in time

At UB's North Campus the other day, I stopped by the Music Library in Baird Hall. I used to spend a lot of time there when I was a UB student. I was studying piano performance, so I knew my way around the place, and when life got tough I loved to curl up in Music Library and listen to Bach cantatas, Mozart operas, carols by Benjamin Britten, everything I loved (and still love). The library has always had visitors' comfort in mind. It's quiet and calm. You can hole up there for hours and nobody cares.

But even if you just have five minutes, it's fun to stop in. The other day, I had the opportunity to meet and talk with a few of the enthusiastic staffers there, including the library's archivist. The archivist has an interesting job. He's not just in charge of maintaining the library's holdings -- which are vast, and embrace more than just classical music. (They have a ton of books on jazz.) as classical music. He also designs and puts together exhibits.

The exhibits in the UB library frequently focus on the university's history as a center for new music. Right now they have an exhibit on Lejaren Hiller, the late UB professor who was a pioneer of electronic music. In the past I've seen exhibits focusing on Yvar Mikhashoff, the fascinating piano professor whom I am privileged to remember from my student days, and also the photography of Irene Haupt -- pictures that bring UB musical history to life.

UB is internationally known as a center for new music, and though it's not everyone's bag, these exhibits will interest anyone just for their chronicling of local history. I always find myself drawn into them. By the way, fans of the Old Masters -- I am one -- will love the little Beethoven exhibit tucked into a corner of Lippes Concert Hall in Slee Hall. They have pictures I've never seen anywhere else, as well as copies of newspaper clippings. Next time you're there for the Slee Beethoven series, check it out.

And next time you pass the UB Music Library, check it out. Just be warned -- you might wind up staying for hours! That's what happened to me the other day. I am still getting my life back on track.

-- Mary Kunz Goldman