Harlem orchestra's musical performance honors Black composer's impact through biblical story of liberation from slavery
During a special Juneteenth celebration, a historic Harlem Church rights a wrong after almost a century of waiting.Eighty-five years after composing an oratorio about emancipation from slavery, and 79 years after his own death, Black composer R. Nathaniel Dett finally received a long-overdue standing ovation after the performance earlier this year of his piece, "The Ordering of Moses," at Riverside Church's Juneteenth celebration.
"He may have been one of the first Black composers to have a major classical piece aired on the radio," says Liz Player, founding executive and artistic director of the Harlem Chamber Players. "It was broadcast nationally, but somehow, about three-quarters of the way through, it was abruptly cut. There's no record of the reason why, although a lot of people believe there may have been some racist objections to this being broadcast.
"Globally, it's time for us to allow the universal language of music to bring us together," Sneed said. "People are going to have an experience of musical ecstasy. They're going to be transcendentally whisked into a place of euphoric excitement. And they will hear some of the most phenomenal musicians this side of the Milky Way galaxy."
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