The History At Home 7. My Own Spades Dig Deeper

[Dr. Adolphus Cunningham Hailstork]

On Feb. 7, 2008, Springer's Journal: The History At Home posted a story on a January 2008 concert by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra: “A Tribute To African American Heroes”. Here is an excerpt from “The History At Home 7. My Own Spades Dig Deeper”:

My criticism of PSO stems largely from how unchallenging this concert was. How they stayed so safe. How they scratched at the surface of Black history and chose to deliver something they must have perceived as accessible. Rather than innovate they chose to placate.

Jazz may have been uniquely our own, but, it is not the only classical form to which we have made extensive contributions. Any serious presentation of our African-American heroes would have recognized this.

A simple trip to AfriClassical.com shows a list of over 38 composers of African descent from the early 1700’s forward. And limiting the composers to the United States Of America does not limit - in any manner - the breadth and scope of work available.

Regardless, there are African-Americans whose work more closely resembles the traditional fare of the PSO. How might the evening have been changed by the pieces below?

“An American Port of Call” by Adolphus Cunningham Hailstork.

Maybe the contrast of Strayhorn’s piece with Hailstork’s “Epitaph for a Man who Dreamed – In Memoriam: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” may have been a fitting contrast in styles which could demonstrate our unique and individual voices. Find these on: African Heritage Symphonic Series, Vol. II; Chicago Sinfonietta; Paul Freeman, Conductor.

How would the concert have differed and become more resonant if they had included the works of Edmond Dede or William Grant Still? How would things change if they'd used my spades to dig deep enough to understand that our collective work would thrill their audiences for years whilst simultaneously developing new ones.