Dear Mrs Kennedy: Music and Mourning on the Death of a President

The assassination of President John F. Kennedy sixty years ago elicited an outpouring of grief. Over 1.5 million letters of condolence arrived at the White House from all over the world. Numerous letters of sympathy, contained gifts, artworks and, in particular, music, composed for Jacqueline Kennedy in honour of her husband.

This commemorative presentation of readings from the letters and music is held in conjunction with the Fourth International Conference of the Society for the History of Emotions. The event draws on the original research of Professor Jennifer Clark who will be joined by past and present staff and students of the University of Adelaide, including Michael Ierace (piano), Elizabeth Layton (violin) and David Moran (cello). Much of the music has never been performed publicly.