Michael Pisani

Date of Death: July 9, 2019

MICHAEL PISANI, internationally noted author, professor, and music scholar, age 65 of Poughkeepsie, New York, passed away on Tuesday, July 9, 2019.

Survived by his father, Mario; his sisters, Denise and Linda, his partner, Christopher; his nieces, Jennifer and Katherine; his nephew, Josh; his great-niece and nephew, Keira and Biagio; his cousins in Milan, Italy, and many other loved family members and friends. He was preceeded in death by his mother, Dolores.

Michael was a graduate of Andrean High School, Class of 1972, received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at Oberlin College, and earned a doctoral degree in musicology from the Eastman School of Music. He was a beloved professor and current chair of the music department at Vassar College, where he was honored with an endowed chair and taught courses on general music history, opera, and film music. Among his many publications are the books “Imagining Native America in Music,” which received the prestigious ASCAP-Deems Taylor Award in 2006, and “Music for the Melodramatic Theatre.” He also published numerous articles and book chapters on opera and film music, including a chapter in “The Oxford Handbook to Film Music” and another, soon to be published, in the “Cambridge Companion to English Melodrama.”

Pisani was an accomplished pianist, conductor, and accordion player. He worked for several major opera companies in the 1980’s, among them Houston Grand Opera, the Seattle Opera Wagner Festival, and Opera Company of Boston. He accompanied rehearsals for many famous opera singers and stage directors and conducted performances of Monteverdi’s “Orfeo” and Handel’s “Xerxes” at the Skylight Opera in Milwaukee. He was also invited by the great American composer and conductor, Leonard Bernstein, to prepare the casts for the triple premiere of this opera “A Quiet Place” for the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., La Scala in Italy, and the Vienna State Opera.

Please join his family on Thursday, July 18, 2019 to honor his life with a visitation from 2:00 to 7:00 pm. at Pruzin & Little Funeral Service, 811 E. Franciscan Dr., Crown Point (South of S.R. 231 on S.R. 55 – please be advised of road construction just north of the funeral home on S.R. 55). Funeral services will be Friday, July 19, 2019 with prayers at 9:30 from Pruzin & Little Chapel and 10:00 am Mass from St. Mary Catholic Church, 321 E. Joliet St., Crown Point with Rev. Pat Kalich officiating. At rest Historic Maplewood Cemetery, Crown Point.

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MICHAEL PISANI, internationally noted author, professor, and music scholar, age 65 of Poughkeepsie, New York, passed away on Tuesday, July 9, 2019. Survived by his father, Mario; his sisters, Denise and Linda, his partner, Christopher; his nieces, Jennifer and Katherine; his nephew, Josh; his great-niece and nephew, Keira and Biagio; his cousins in Milan,Continue Reading

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Remain in the light, dear Michael. I will remember with great fondness our memorable days of friendship in Houston when you were a young conductor and I was a Ph.D student.

Christopher, oh my dearest, this absolutely breaks my heart. Michael was such a precious gift to the world. I am so very sorry. As always, your northern friend Sylvia

I am so saddened to hear of the passing of my favorite professor. I took three music classes with Prof. Pisani at Vassar and, frankly, classmates in those classes saw me as a bit of a teacher's pet--because I was! He was a terrific educator, we had a wonderful rapport, and I even asked him to be a reference for me after graduation (which he generously agreed to). When we were back for our class reunion recently, some friends and I wondered about Professor Pisani; I had not been in touch in recent years and had no idea he was unwell or would pass so soon thereafter. My sincere condolences to Christopher and the rest of his family.
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My deepest sympathy at the loss of Michael. I saw him many times, talked with him, and heard him play at Vassar. He will be greatly missed! My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

To Christopher and the family - my deepest respect and sympathy - Michael was the Leonard Betnstein of Andrean High School - he has been the gold standard of excellence and extraordinary achievement - he was the consummate artist and brilliant comrade - he will be missed by us all. Sincerely - Stephen Sulich - Concordia College

Peace of mind is a call away. We’re here when you need us most.

My sincerest sympathies! Michael came to see me in Leipzig during his trip to Europe a year ago, I still see him sitting in my kitchen. He was a wonderful colleague and friend. Rest in peace.

I offer condolences on behalf of the American Society for Theatre Research.

My sincerest sympathy to Michael's family and close friends. He was a wonderful spirit! I got to know him at SAM meetings and so enjoyed our conversations and learning about his fascinating life. He will be missed by many.

I was so sad to hear of the passing of Michael. He was a much loved visitor to British conferences. I first met him more than twenty years ago and my respect for his scholarship is equalled by my regard for his wonderful qualities as a human being. My thoughts are with the family.

My sincere sympathy to Michael's family and close friends. Michael was a model humanitarian who truly made the world a better place. His kindness, care, intellect, curiosity, and compassion will never be forgotten.

I met Prof. Pisani at a conference in 2014, as his book on melodrama was hot off the press, and exchanged with him again by email this winter. As a junior musicologist, his scholarship has been a major inspiration for my work, I am indebted to him for his support and encouragement, and most importantly, I count myself lucky to have encountered on my path such a kind, curious, and generous person.

I wish to express my deepest condolences. At the Society for American Music meeting in NOLA 2019 Michael told me the story of his earlier career working with the HGO and later with Sarah Caldwell and Leonard Bernstein. Until then I had only known him as a musicologist. So much richness to his life. He was not just a music historian. He made operatic music history. So grateful for his contributions. So sad for our collective loss.

Sincerest condolences to a dear friend Mario, daughters Denise & Linda on the unexpected passing of Michael. He was a kind soul and gifted musician who made his mark in music along with lasting scholarly contributions that will be long remembered in his long career at Vassar. much love Alfeo, Norma, Larry & Ronald Vittorini

I saw far too little of this gentle, thoughtful man and scholar, and I grieve for myself and all the others who will have no more opportunity to be with him save in our memories. He was a teacher even to his friends and his passing is a great sorrow to us.

I was so saddened to hear of Michael's death and send my heartfelt sympathies to Christopher and the rest of Michael's family. I will miss his wonderful spirit and optimism.

Deepest condolences to the Pisani family, Michael's partner and extended family at this very sad and difficult time. Such an amazing list of accomplishments and accolades. My brothers and I grew up on Pierce St next door to the Pisani family. When we were kids, Michael would play the piano and I would sing...most memorably, Moon River. My youngest brother enjoyed being friends with Linda in the neighborhood. So very sorry for your loss. Peace be with you ~

On behalf of the University of Iowa Press, I want to express my condolences to Michael's partner, family, and friends. He was a wonderful and creative scholar whose work has been described as "meticulous," "groundbreaking," "ambitious," and "immensely brilliant."

Michael and I were competitors in the Indiana Accordion Association for many years, starting at about 10 years old. He was a formidable opponent, and in most cases, he kicked my butt! May he rest in peace!

I shall miss you, Michael. You were a joy, friend, and inspiration to all of the family of scholars in American music. There's an empty chair around our table now, to be filled only with good memories.

Rest in peace, prayers will be said for the family for condolence & peace in this difficult time.

Peace of mind is a call away. We’re here when you need us most.

I never met Michael, but just read his beautifully-written obituary. What a wealth and depth of life and spirit, and such joy he has taken (and shared with others) in the sacred art of music. May God comfort his family, and may Michael's passion and joy and excellence live on in the many lives he has touched.

What a life, and what a shock. I kept up with Michael too infrequently until just 2 weeks ago. We were together at Rina Rosa accordion school as children, along with my wife Patti and her twin Penny. Michael seemed unchanged in appearance since. He played the Brahms Violin Concerto in D on accordion, which means an arrangement representing the orchestra, violin, everything. 18 years old. I know he went from there to Oberlin College, and a hard working career. If there is a heaven, the hosts have gained more love and joy. Deepest regards to Michael’s family.

Michael will be greatly missed by so many. He has touched so many people, he was a kind gentle soul. I have know him for many years and he was like a brother to me. I will miss him very much. I am sure God will enlist him for help with the choir of Angels and that why he probably took MIchael now.

So sad to lose such an accomplished person who shared so much of his talent. Sincere condolences to his family and friends.

A great man. I will miss him.

The last poem we talked about: "...And, as was said, vast ocean without cease, Poured forth its voice of happiness and peace..." Farewell, dear colleague.

So very sad. Michael was a great scholar and an incredibly nice person. Hard to believe he's gone.

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.