Weaver, James (Merle)

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Weaver, James (Merle)

Weaver, James (Merle), American harpsichordist, pianist, fortepianist, and teacher; b. Champaign, 111., Sept. 25,1937. He was educated at the Univ. of III. (B.A., 1961; M.M., 1963), where he received instruction in harpsichord from George Hunter. He also was a student of Leonhardt at the Sweelinck Cons, in Amsterdam (1957-59). In 1967 he became curator of historic instruments at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., where he co-founded the period instrument group the Smithsonian Chamber Players in 1976. He also pursued a solo career as a keyboard artist, taught at Cornell Univ. and the American Univ., and gave master classes in 18th-century performance practice.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire