Marvin J. Ward

Marvin J. Ward

Marvin J. Ward has degrees in French and English: BA (62) & MA (72, English), SUNY Albany; MA (68, French), Université Laval, Québec; Ph.D. (specializing in their medieval literatures, 84), UNC-CH; is bilingual, was a HS French teacher, then a translator and interpreter for 20 years.

He was a choral singer, radio announcer, retail music recording salesman and department manager, member of boards of presenter organizations, and is a collector of recorded classical music.

He relocated from Raleigh, NC, to Western Massachusetts upon retirement in 2003, now residing in Easthampton, and continues to contribute to CVNC. He was a founder & Executive Editor (2006-2009) of the now defunct Classical Voice of New England.

Since April 2011, he is a Five Colleges Associate with Five Colleges, Inc., based at Smith College in Northampton, MA. His research and writing focus on music, especially French, early music, and performances on historic pianos, particularly at the Frederick Collection in Ashburnham, MA.

Other interests include art/art history, history (with a forthcoming book about Easthampton's earliest industries), historical sites, museums, and reading.

He has written for CVNC since 2001, and for CVNA since 2013.

Articles by Marvin J. Ward:

Result Count: 276 (viewing articles 1 through 25)

Thorough Appraisal of Now Often Underrated and Overlooked Composer

Biography, Music Media Review by Marvin J. Ward,  January 8, 2023

Locklair's Requiem Recording Cleverly and Beautifully Ordered

Music Media Review by Marvin J. Ward,  December 15, 2022

(Palazzetto) Bru Zane; A Label With A Large and Very Worthy Mission

Music Media Review by Marvin J. Ward,  November 6, 2022

The Finest Pianos Ever Made

Music Media Review by Marvin J. Ward,  September 2, 2022

A Seminal Book by Stuart Isacoff

Music Media Review by Marvin J. Ward,  August 5, 2022

Music by Exiled Ukrainian and Russian Composers

Music Media Review by Marvin J. Ward,  July 9, 2022

Two Labels With Good "Agendas"

Instrumental Ensemble, Music Media Review by Marvin J. Ward,  June 8, 2022

Pianos Compared: Originals, Contemporaries, and Moderns

Media Review by Marvin J. Ward,  May 18, 2022

Three Recent CDs of African-American and African Piano Music

Miscellaneous, Music Media Review by Marvin J. Ward,  May 9, 2022

Harp Music to Save the Planet

Music Media Review by Marvin J. Ward,  April 22, 2022

Two New Noteworthy CDs by All-Female Ensembles

Chamber Music, Music Media Review by Marvin J. Ward,  April 6, 2022

Beethoven Symphonies in Chamber Format for Spring

Chamber Music, Music Media Review by Marvin J. Ward,  March 22, 2022

A New and Original Complete Traversal of Mendelssohn's Works for Piano

Music Media Review by Marvin J. Ward,  March 4, 2022

What's a 'basso'?: Conundrums in the String Instrument Families

Music Feature by Marvin J. Ward,  March 2, 2022

New CDs for Excellent Solo Instrumentalists on Indy Labels

Music Media Review by Marvin J. Ward,  February 5, 2022

Mixed Art Media: New Recordings by More Women Composers

Orchestral Music, Vocal Music Media Review by Marvin J. Ward,  January 11, 2022

The Latest Release by France's Best String Quartet Today

Chamber Music, Music Media Review by Marvin J. Ward,  December 8, 2021

Neglected Works by Once Famous but Now Forgotten Important Composers Revived

Music, Orchestral Music Media Review by Marvin J. Ward,  November 16, 2021

A Superb Recorded Performance of the Beethoven Violin Sonatas

Chamber Orchestra, Music Media Review by Marvin J. Ward,  October 6, 2021

Celebrating "National Piano Month" with Fine New Releases by Young Women Pianists

Music Media Review by Marvin J. Ward,  September 7, 2021

Women in the Spotlight on Recent CDs

Chamber Music, Orchestral Music Media Review by Marvin J. Ward,  September 3, 2021

Newly Available Music by an Important and Prolific Armenian-American Composer

Contemporary Music, Music, World Music Media Review by Marvin J. Ward,  July 6, 2021