Last night I attended a Washington Symphonic Brass production at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts in Annapolis. The 36 of us who were there were moved by a piece that was performed by the brass with the words of Dr. King spoken by a former professor of my conductor friend E. This professor was a wonderful man - African American. In his youth, his amazing voice led him to pursue singing as a career. Unfortunately, he is of an age where the black man could not get hired - no matter how amazing he was. So, he went to Europe. Funnily or poignantly, he convinced European Opera houses that if a white man could sing in black face a black man could sing in white face. He went on to have a wonderful career in Europe. Meanwhile, the climate started to change in the U.S. and he came back to be a professor at both Howard and Peabody Conservatory.
He did not sing last night - he spoke. With power and resonance. He spoke the words of Dr. King. He spoke about equality and nobility of spirit and triumphing over odds that are staggering. It was so beautiful for its relevance to this gentleman's life.
I wish everyone could have heard it.
We all need to see one another as brothers. If music and words - the combination of which is more powerful than one can know - can convey that message then all should hear it.
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