John Malveaux: Part 12-LBCAA 30 year history

Phillis Wheatley: Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral

Black Civil War Soldiers

Juneteenth Worldwide Concert

Denyce Graves

Mezzo Soprano

Recital

John Malveaux of 

www.MusicUNTOLD.com  

writes:

Part 12-LBCAA 30 year history

MusicUNTOLD Juneteenth Worldwide Concert at the Terrace Theater (Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center), June 19, 2011 was the first event produced by an African American founded non-profit organization in the City’s history.  Mezzzo-Soprano Denyce Graves had won accolades for her performances in opera houses across North and South America, Europe and Asia. She had performed for three presidents, Pope Benedict XVI, dignitaries at the U.N. Summit on the Environment, at the National Prayer Service following the 9/11 tragedies, and at concerts benefiting U.S. military personnel. She had appeared with the leading symphony orchestras and conductors throughout the world. She made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in the 1995-96 season in the title role of Carmen. In 1996 she was the subject of an Emmy-award winning profile on CBS’s 60 Minutes.

The recital was followed by a reception for Ms. Graves and preceded by an exhibit of rare objects in the lobby area of the theater. The Mayme A. Clayton Library & Museum exhibited a variety of rare objects, sheet music, photographs, books and works of art chronicling African American history and culture. (Rare photographs of African American operatic singer, Marian Anderson, an autographed copy of the first book of poetry written by an individual of African American descent. The book titled, Poems on Various Subjects Religious and Moral, was written by the enslaved, African American, Phillis Wheatley and was published in London, England in 1773). The exhibit also highlighted African American participation in a number of music genres. Rare signed sheet music by Duke Ellington and a variety of other historical artifacts were on display in celebration of Black Music Month.  Please see Pic1-event flyer; Pic2-Phillis Wheatley book

If prevalent and accepted accounts of American History – both scholarly and those portrayed by Hollywood – are to be believed, the face of the Union Army was white. The truth is, though most were not recognized as citizens or even free man, more than 200,000 African Americans took up arms in the Civil War. Yet most accounts of their valiant actions are absent from history books and contemporary film.

November 20, 2011, MusicUNTOLD screened the documentary FOR LOVE OF LIBERTY: Stories of Black Patriots in The Civil War, Ernest McBride Park Community Room.  Writer-director Frank Martin discussed making the film followed by audience Q&A. See Pic3-Union soldiers