Maria Mitchell Subject of New Choral Work, “The Ways of Stars”

Logan Gomes • February 22, 2022

Nantucket, MA – During her years at Vassar College, one of Maria’s classes created a song about her set to the music of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Another class, commissioned a bust of their beloved professor – it still stands in the niche at the Vassar College Observatory and the MMA has a bronze copy that was donated to the Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) about a decade ago. Maria was secretly a bit pleased by both, though she was not pleased with posing for a bust that required her having to be measured.
 

People continue to be inspired by her and to find ways to commemorate her life and work. Over the last year or so, the MMA has been speaking with the Atlanta Master Chorale as they put together their performance “The Ways of the Stars” by composer Jake Runstead.


The Atlanta Master Chorale is an over forty-year-old chorale group that has received numerous accolades over the years. Before the COVID-19 Pandemic took hold of the country and the world, the group performed a choral piece by Runstead concerning the fears faced by Beethoven as he approached the loss of his hearing. The Chorale was inspired by this work and commissioned Runstead for its own piece. Runstead chose to look at Maria Mitchell and her life and work. This particular piece focuses on her eclipse viewing trip to Burlington, Iowa in 1869. She travelled out West with several of her students to observe, creating quite a stir as the only all-female group and also for the simple fact they were a group of women travelling cross country. She would publish an account of the eclipse in the October 1869 edition of “Hours at Home” and this is what inspired Runstead.


“The MMA is very excited about this musical piece and I have been having ongoing discussions with the Chorale’s Executive Director and also Mr. Runstead. They had originally planned to premiere the work last year but due to the pandemic, they could not. So I am very excited to hear it. I have read it but that is certainly not the same. I think Maria Mitchell would be secretly pleased,” says Jascin Leonardo Finger the MMA’s Deputy Director and Curator of the Mitchell House where Maria was born in 1818.


The world premiere of the piece will be performed at Emory University March 11 and 12 and there is a virtual offering. The Chorale will also be presenting several discussion panels which will include women in STEM and also Runstead discussing his work and how he was inspired by Maria Mitchell. Tickets for the livestreamed concert can be purchased here: https://www.atlantamasterchorale.org/concerts


The Maria Mitchell Association is a private non-profit organization. Founded in 1902, the MMA works to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages.

 

Atlanta Master Chorale has crafted one of America’s finest choral sounds, bringing singers and audiences to the place where music touches spirit. Started in 1985 as the Gwinnett Festival Singers, the group gained momentum well beyond its initial suburban reach, drawing singers and audiences from throughout metropolitan Atlanta. Artistic Director Eric Nelson has led Atlanta Master Chorale since 1999. Throughout its nearly four decades of development, Atlanta Master Chorale has consistently celebrated material drawn from a broad spectrum of choral music. Atlanta Master Chorale audiences enjoy nearly 100 different pieces over four concerts each season, featuring music from nearly every period and genre, including historic and newly commissioned a cappella songs as well as major and minor accompanied works. The ensemble's choral series, published by MorningStar/E.C. Schirmer, captures new repertoire premiered by Atlanta Master Chorale, helping to add vibrant new music to the choral field. 

For Immediate Release

February 22, 2022

Contact: Logan Gomes, Director of Advancement

lgomes@mariamitchell.org

Recent Posts

Raise The Roof!

By Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • April 6, 2026
Well, actually replace the roof! With funding from the Community Preservation Act and the work of Lydon and Sons, Inc. the Mitchell House is getting a new roof. The current one had come to the end of its useful life. A cedar roof can last a long time – longer than asphalt – and is more historically accurate. The roof we are removing was installed in about 1992 – replacing a roof from the 1930s that was not cedar but a combination of materials that actually yes, did last sixty years. The unfortunate issue has arisen that the roofwalk (walk) has to be replaced. This is NOT the original walk – nor that old of a walk. It’s likely from the 1970s or so and has been cobbled at over time. It’s not a functioning walk – no one is allowed on it – but the Mitchell House needs it none the less. Maria Mitchell and her father, William, likely used the walk for astronomical observations – in addition to the yard – but the walk is also protected as part of the preservation easement on the House. Walks – NOT and NEVER called widow’s walks – were used for preventing and putting out chimney fire and roof fires. In a place where wood was expensive and had to be brought from “the main” these were purely utilitarian. What good Quaker (or non-Quaker) would build a platform for his wife to stare out to the harbor to see if her husband was on his way home? The other issue is that the walk was completely resting on the ridge board – and actually was notched to accept the pitch and tip of the ridge board so they couldn’t work around it. I suspect this may have been the ways walks were once built – and also a crafty and smart thinking carpenter who came up with the idea. It makes the walk lower. But between that issue and the age of the walk and then the blizzard of February 2026 that packed gusts over 83 MPH (that’s Category 1 hurricane winds) the walk gave in. Balusters had been knocked out and the railings were loose and pulling away from the posts. So, we will also be working with Barber and Sons to create a new roofwalk – and they agreed to do this for us quickly which is also no small feat given how busy everyone is these days. So from the bottom of the Mitchell House’s heart (and mine) a big thank you to Chris Lydon and Lydon and Sons and crew, Barber and Sons / Beau and Nate Barber, the Community Preservation Committee, and Nantucket Preservation Trust (our easement holder)! JNLF

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By Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • March 30, 2026
1882. Mch.13.3 p.m. I start for Faculty. As I sit, I feel as well as I ever did in my life; I go to Faculty and we probably shall elect what we called the “honor” girls. I dread the struggle that is pretty certain to come . . .The whole system is demoralizing and foolish. Girls study for “prizes” and not for learning when “honors” are at the end. The unscholarly motive is wearing. Maria Mitchell once said, “You cannot mark the human mind because there is no intellectual unit.” She did not like grades or prizes as you can see by her words above. I have to agree. Whether it be in academics or sports or some other activity, you should be rewarded in what you learn and how well you do – not to achieve a prize at the end. It’s the same idea with giving prizes to everyone so no one feels left out – just don’t do it. Learn how to lose gracefully.  JNLF

Women’s History Month

By Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • March 23, 2026
March is Women’s History Month – though all months should be women’s history month! Maria Mitchell was one of the founders of the Association for the Advancement of Women (AAW), was its president for a term (1875), and founded its Science Committee which she chaired for the remainder of her life. When the fourth Congress of the AAW met in Philadelphia in October 1876, Julia Ward Howe (also a friend of Maria’s) was serving with Maria on the executive committee. Maria presented a paper, “The Need for Women in Science.” In it she stated, Does anyone suppose that any woman in all the ages has had a fair chance to show what she could do in science? . . . The laws of nature are not discovered by accidents; theories do not come by chance, even to the greatest minds; they are not born of the hurry and worry of daily toil; they are diligently sought, they are patiently waited for, they are received with cautious reserve, they are accepted with reverence and awe. And until able women have given their lives to investigation, it is idle to discuss the question of their capacity for original work. She is not saying that women cannot be scientists – she is saying they need to be given the opportunities. Maria was incredibly busy with the AAW – it took up a great deal of her time – and at the next meeting in November of that year some aspects of the meeting were wonderful according to her account –“excellent” papers, “newspapers treated us very well. The institutions opened their doors to us, the Centennial gave us a reception. But – we didn’t have a good time!” It appears there was discord among the women. A few opposed the subject of “Woman Suffrage,” but Lucy Stone was able to present her paper on the subject despite this. And, some women felt that the West was not well represented and was overshadowed by New England, thus women representing the western states protested the nomination and election of Julia Ward Howe as president of the AAW. But she won. Whew! It was not always easy and controversies constantly abounded with many schisms over time within the women’s rights movement. I often wonder what Maria might think of the place of women today – how far things have come from her time or would she be surprised that there still is inequality? What would she think? In honor of Women’s History Month, visit the National Women’s History Alliance, the National Women’s History Museum, and the National Collaborative of Women’s History Sites. These places will also point you in the directions of women’s history sites across the country and how to find out more information about all these women who paved the way for us!  JNLF
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