Lovers of music are always looking to explore new facets of the musical ideas that drive their passion. Some may write music to explore new ideas. Some may use networking, the resources of the internet, or a traditional in-store discography to see how artists are continuing to develop their music. For a man named Rob Tannen, a more personal exploration seemed most appropriate. Tannen, a current resident of the Princeton area, has always had an interest of salon music. In this tradition, musical ideas are shared directly through live performance. The intimacy of the salon environment allows for more articulate discussion of all aspects of music-making. Tannen has now engaged himself in a modern-day salon culture in the Princeton area.
Growing up, Tannen did not have much a direct relationship with live music. Most of his childhood musical experiences were a result of record shop exploration or public radio findings. As he got older, a more focused attention formed around organ music. Both classical organ music and more modern, romantic music appealed to him. The capabilities of the organ to mimic the sounds of a large ensemble texture sparked an interest in him. Later in life, Tannen began a collection of practice organs. While he has never considered himself a performer of music, Tannen found his musical inspiration in the form of organ improvisation. These improvisation sessions eventually led to his first compositions. His compositions were first viewed to be too difficult, or specifically “unplayable.” However, after some searching, Tannen found an organist from Philadelphia to perform one of his organ works in a salon-style setting. He later began to write for the voice, focusing on an art song style. However, his composition has never expanded beyond a hobby that accompanies his career as a biologist.
Tannen’s home has now been transformed to a small performance space that allows him to invite musicians to explore different ideas with friends, family, and other members of the Princeton community. A wide variety of musical acts have visited Tannen’s performance space to share their music, including but not limited to a solo percussionist performing on the marimba, piano recitalists, and singers of classical Chinese music. For the members of the community that participate, Rob Tannen’s home is considered a hub of musical learning. While Tannen does not claim to be a contributor to the musical culture of this area, his friend and cameraman Jack Turkel insists that his friendship with Tannen has contributed greatly to his knowledge of varying styles of music.
Ultimately, Tannen would like to use his established salon culture to expand the variety of musical knowledge and acceptance. Specifically, he mentioned a desired exploration of the church organ. The idea of organ music, for some, is often reserved for the church. Tannen, like many other people interested in organ music, would like to see the instrument used in a way that does not rely on sacred music or events. For example, an organist is able to play a full transcription of an orchestral work. This opens the door for many different genres of music to be performed on the instrument.
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