The best way I can think of to adequately capture my musical triumph from about a month ago - without sounding boastful - is to keep it simple.
There were about one hundred people in the auditorium including several from a local book club I belong to, some fellow hikers, folks from a writers group. The audience was with me from the start, evidenced by their enthusiastic participation to my impromptu request for a sing-along with Amazing Grace, the song used as historical context to kick off my ninety-minute presentation. The central premise of this offer, a synthesis of three earlier classes I'd delivered elsewhere: Music's critical role in reflecting and shaping the zeitgeist.
Aside from a technology glitch or two, everything else fell into place. I'll never tire of exposing people to transformative songs like Strange Fruit or Hello in There or guiding them to listen to Nowhere Man or Big Yellow Taxi with fresh ears. I'm still vibrating.
"If there were no music, I would not get through." - from I Don't Know Why (1993): Shawn Colvin
Was happy to be there--to go on the journey, hearing and learning what music can do and has done. Seeing your enthusiasm was the best part Pat!
ReplyDeleteRegina; Thanks for the comment and the support at that event.
DeleteSTRANGE FRUIT is one of the most emotional pieces I have heard. I saw a live recording, done in 1959, as part of an exhibit at MoMA years ago. If you haven’t seen, it is on line. Google “Strange Fruit Live Performance Bessie Smith.”
ReplyDeleteI have never heard it sung by anyone else. . Wish I had seen your performance.
Anonymous; Thanks for the comment. Because Bessie Smith died in 1937 and "Strange Fruit" wasn't written by Abel Meeropol (aka Lewis Allan) until 1939 - and recorded by Billie Holiday that same year - I was unable to find what you're referring to above. But, as you said, it is indeed one of the most powerfully emotional lyrics of all time. When I played the Billie Holiday recording in my recent class - with a Power Point showing the lyrics - the auditorium was eerily quiet. That audience reaction is 100% consistent with my experience whenever I introduce people to this song.
DeleteOMG. of course, Billie Holliday. It was a senior moment at best and creeping dementia at worst
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