University of Virginia Library

Speakers Explore Music,
Relevance Of History

A symposium debating the relevance
of history to the present will be held
tomorrow at 4 p.m. in 215 Wilson Hall.

In addition, a lecture on Guyanan folk
music and one on scientific theology will
highlight this week's activities at the
University.

Stressing the importance of historical
studies and interpretations at the
symposium will be Professors Samuel
Berner, Houston Baker, and Edwin Erickson
from the University Departments of History,
English, and Sociology and Anthropology,
respectively.

Thomas Breslin, a graduate student in
history, will express his views attacking the
relevance of history in modern times.

The history symposium deals with an
important aspect of education, since most
departments - including all the departments of
the College of Arts and Sciences - teach
history as a method of interpreting the present.
Sponsors for this symposium are New Literary
History, the Virginia Law Review, and The
Cavalier Daily.

Also this week, a Hampton Institute
professor and a University of Edinburgh
theologian will speak to the University
community.

Featuring a sing-along session, a program of
the folk music of Guyana, South America, will
be presented by Enid P. Housty of Hampton
Institute tonight at Newcomb Hall.

Another lecture, entitled "Newton, Einstein
and Scientific Theology," will be delivered by
professor Thomas F. Torrance of the University
of Edinburgh tomorrow night at Wilson Hall.

Miss Housty, a native of Guyana, will discuss
her country, its people, and their music through
the use of song, slides, records, and tapes at 8
p.m. in the South Meeting Room. After the
lecture Miss Housty's audience is invited to the
Prism Coffee House for further musical
demonstrations.

Currently researching a book on the music
of Guyana, Miss Housty is acting chairman of
the department of English at Hampton. Her
lecture is part of a series of faculty and student
exchanges between Hampton and the
University.

Concerning the topic of her lecture, Miss
Housty stated: "The music of Guyana is closely
woven around the traditions and culture of the
descendants of Africans brought into the
country centuries ago. But elements of the
culture of the other races and people in the
country are undeniably reflected in the songs."

Mr. Torrance's lecture, part of the Focus
Lecture Series sponsored by the Department of
Religious Studies and the Masters and Fellows
of Madison Hall, will be presented at 8:30 p.m.
in 308 Wilson Hall and is open to the public.

This series offers distinguished persons in
public life, the arts, the humanities and the
Christian ministry opportunities to share their
ideas on current and interesting topics.

A professor of Christian dogmatics at the
University of Edinburgh, Mr. Torrance is
considered one of the foremost reformed
theologians of our time. He has lectured
frequently in the United States and is currently
general editor of the English translation of the
works of Karl Barth.