By Anne Levin

John Burkhalter is fascinated by colonial-era broadsheet newspapers. Scrolling recently through a database, he came upon an announcement from the New York Journal, dated August 11, 1774, for an evening of music and dance in Princeton at the “Sign of the College” tavern, which was located directly across from Nassau Hall. A man named William Whitehead had leased the tavern from Richard Stockton, the original owner of Morven.

“I was absolutely flabbergasted,” said Burkhalter, known for his performances of early music with The Practitioners of Early Musick. “In terms of 18th century music, this is one of most extraordinary documents.”

To celebrate this discovery, and in anticipation of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Historical Society of Princeton (HSP) and Morven Museum and Garden are collaborating with Burkhalter on a re-creation of the event. On November 8 at 7 p.m. at Morven’s Stockton Education Center, a reimagination of the evening of music and dance is planned. Burkhalter will play English and small flutes, and Donovan Klotzbeacher will play the harpsichord. Soprano Abigail Chapman and baroque violinist Elizabeth Rouget will also perform, and baroque dance specialist Susan Nabors Braisted will provide the dance component.

The original performance, which took place on August 22, 1774, was to be held in Whitehead’s “Long Room [in the tavern], a large and commodious space, finished for the entertainment of company on public occasions,” according to the announcement.

A press release from the HSP reads, “The performance, led by Mr. Hoar, a dancing master based in New York, would comprise vocal and instrumental music performed by two gentlemen and one young lady from New York, as well as several of the best players from ‘Princetown.’ It is significant that even at this early date, New Jersey could claim native musicians skilled enough to play in public with professionals.”

“It’s been a lot of detective work and musicological forensic work,” said Burkhalter of the program. “Once I had the newspaper account, I started to try and find the music that was listed. It was like trying to find a needle in a haystack. The composers weren’t listed, but the tunes were. I went through multiple data bases. I also own a collection of original pieces, and it turned out that four of the pieces to be performed I already owned in my collection.”

From there, Burkhalter figured out identity of the composers. After much work, he narrowed it down to Thomas Augustine Arne, his son Michael Arne, and Charles Dibdin, “all well known for their ballad and comic opera successes in London,” according to the HSP release. “Based on the remarkable vocal repertoire listed in the advertisement, Mr. Whitehead must have had a harpsichord in place. After the musical portion, Mr. Hoar promised a ball ‘on the same plan as polite assemblies in London or any other part of Great Britain.’ Coffee and tea were included in the price of admission.”

For Burkhalter, the world of 18th century music has been in his life as far back as he can remember. “My mother’s family is British, so I grew up partly in the U.K. I was very accustomed to seeing English country dancing,” he said. “My father’s family settled in Philadelphia in 1732. Various members fought during the American Revolution. Basically, I see the year 1776 through the lens of my mother’s family.”

Music has historical resonance for Burkhalter. “I’m fascinated by the way one can fit music and dance within the matrix of cultural history,” he said. “That’s what really informs me. History for me is like a giant popup book. I wander around this world.”

In the course of his research for the program, Burkhalter found that a French dancing master had announced in 1783 that he had set up a school in Trenton. “He hoped to establish a practice in Princeton, teaching all sorts of dances,” he said. “But the trustees of the College of New Jersey (the earlier name of Princeton University) did not approve.”

Tickets to the performance are $45, or $80 for two. Light refreshments will be served. Visit morven.org to purchase tickets, which include access to visit Morven’s exhibition, “Morven Revealed: Untold Stories from New Jersey’s Most Historic Home.” Morven is at 55 Stockton Street.

“In the spirit of the celebration, the wearing of fun hats and outfits are encouraged to express participants’ vision, modern or historic, for a colonial dance party,” reads the release.

“It’s very rare to find a newspaper account that lists the repertoire that would be performed,” Burkhalter said. “The amazing thing about this notice is that in Mr. Hoar’s announcement, he actually mentions the songs to be performed, and I’ve tracked down nearly all of them. Seven of them will be performed. I think this will be very exciting.”