Charles Kaufmann of Longfellow Chorus: Longfellow Student Work Sheds Light on Hiawatha at Maine Historical Society Lecture, February 27, 7PM

[Rev. John Heckenwelder (1743-1823), author of "Account of the History, Manners, and Customs of the Indian Nations who once inhabited Pennsylvania and the Neighboring States," (1818), a book from which young Henry Wadsworth Longfellow borrowed liberally in "English Dialogue Between an English Emigrant and a North American Savage," (1823).]

The Longfellow Chorus Portland, MaineFebruary 1, 2014

Alas! The sky is overcast with dark and blustering  clouds! The rivers run with blood, but never, never  will we suffer the grass to grow upon our war  path! And now I do remember, that the Initiate  prophet in my earlier years told from his dreams,  that all our race should fall like withered leaves  when Autumn strips the forest! Lo! I hear  sighing and sobbing! ‘tis the death song of a  mighty nation, -- the last requiem over the   grave of the fallen.      —from "Dialogue Between an English Emigrant  and a North American Savage," Henry  Wadsworth Longfellow. 1823. At 7 PM, February 27, at the Maine Historical Society  in Portland, I will be joined by Betsy Sholl, former  Poet Laureate of Maine, and John Bear Mitchell,  co-director of the Wabanaki Center and lecturer in  Wabanaki Studies at the University of Maine in Orono,  for a special lecture and reception celebrating the  207th birthday of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. This fascinating program will recreate a little-known  student text by Longfellow, English Dialogue Between  an English Emigrant and a North American Savage  (1823), which is a transcript of a debate that 17-year- old Longfellow took part in with a fellow student,  James W. Bradbury, for the Bowdoin College Junior  Exhibition, December 10, 1823. In this debate,  Bradbury presented the views of a seventeenth-century  English Emigrant in war-torn colonial New England;  Longfellow took on the opposing role of a Native warrior. This was the first time Longfellow experimented with  ideas and themes that would eventually become The  Song of Hiawatha (1854). As a young man growing  up in Portland, and spending time in rural Hiram,  Maine, with its rich native tribal history associated with  ancient villages along the Saco River, Longfellow had  long been captivated by the history of Maine's Wabanaki  tribes. In our presentation, Betsy Sholl will read the part of  "English Emigrant" -- as well as recite several  additional poems; John Bear Mitchell will reenact  the part of "North American Savage," and share  thoughts and perspectives from the point of view of  a contemporary Penobscot Nation tribal member. A Q&A session will follow this engrossing and  thoughtful presentation, as well as a reception with  birthday cake. Will Maine Historical Society find a way to fit 207  candles on that cake? See you there. Charles Kaufmann, Artistic Director The Longfellow Chorus PO Box 5133 Portland, Maine 04101