Gwen Fortune: “Today, there are tens of thousands of 'genetic' Philippa Schuylers, being hugged and allowed to grow.”

[Philippa Duke Schuyler]

Gwendoline Y. Fortune, Ed.D. comments on Colour of Genius, the 20-minute BBC Radio 3 documentary on Philippa Duke Schuyler, which aired Oct. 14:

I listened to the BBC program on Philippa Schuyler, and found it very interesting. I read the entry on her father in Wikipedia. I had forgotten her father's conservative political position. So was surprised by that mention on Phillipa. When one considers the source, her conservatism is understandable. Her mother was described as a "liberal." Not so, if she was connected with the John Birch Society.

This does not detract from Philippa's genius. Her tragic life is testimony to the insanity of our world at personal and public interface. I was getting into my car at the grocery and saw a child, eight or nine, who resembled Phillipa Schuyler. Her father exited the car and took her hand. The father was black, with dreadlocks. Both seemed happy. Today, there are tens of thousands of "genetic" Philippa Schuylers, being hugged and allowed to grow. The theory of Dr. Watson, not to hug children, was cruel.

Gwen

OvergrownPath.com on Philippa Schuyler: 'How faith and idealism triumphed over ratings'

[Philippa Duke Schuyler]

AfriClassical recently posted: “Recordings of Music of Philippa Duke Schuyler by John McLaughlin Williams to Air on BBC-Radio 3 on Oct. 14.” Now that the program has aired, Bob Shingleton of On An Overgrown Path writes to us:

Bill, BBC Radio 3 profile of Philippa Schuyler is on BBC iPlayer until October 21. Here is my post-transmission post...

Regards,

Bob

OvergrownPath.com

Saturday, October 15, 2011

“How faith and idealism triumphed over ratings

Radio 3's profile of Philippa Schuyler Colour of Genius can now be heard on the BBC iPlayer. As explained in an earlier post I had no involvement with the programme other than encouraging the BBC to develop it from the articles and recordings that I created with John McLaughlin Williams in August, which meant I heard the finished result for the first time last night. Doing justice to a personality as multi-layered as Philippa in a twenty minute interval talk is a massive challenge and everyone involved rises magnificently to the challenge. BBC Cardiff producers Michael Surcombe and Martin Williams deserve credit for steering a sensitive, in more ways than one, subject through the production process. Ella Spira's presentation is fresh and engaging, the participation of biographer Kathryn Talaly is a coup, while John McLaughlin Williams' pro bono home recordings bring Philippa to life - let us hope we hear more of John's music making on the BBC. Finally, kudos to Radio 3 for commissioning the programme...”

Comment by email:
Thanks for alerting your readership to this, Bill. You are an integral (really, indispensable) part of spreading the message of good music across any and all imaginable lines of separation. Best, J [John McLaughlin Williams]