During a professional development session at the NY Philharmonic Archives for NYC music teachers, the Archives' Curator, Barbara Hawes, shared the original lead plates used to print the choral parts for the first US performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony - on May 20, 1844. The performance also marked the first time the “Ode to Joy” (from the fourth movement) had ever been sung in English. Here's the original soprano part used at that performance (courtesy of the NY Philharmonic Archives):
I helped arrange a collaboration between the Philharmonic's Archives, its Education Department, and Region 4 (Queens) of the NYC Department of Education. I made an arrangement of the Symphony's last movement, and Region 4 Art Coordinator, William Kasuli, recruited choruses from four Region 4 middle and high schools to perform work - using that original English translation. Theodore Wiprud, the Philharmonic's Director of Education graciously arranged the participation of NY Philharmonic musicians and teaching artists. The performance at Region 4's 2007 Spring Concert would be the first time that translation had been used for over 160 years.
Philharmonic audiences learned about the project - and its roots in Philharmonic history -via this notice in the orchestra's May 2007 concert program:
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The directors of the choruses and I prepared the young musicians in the weeks before the performance, and all forces came together for a dress rehearsal at the Queens Theater in the Park. Students - some of whom thought “Ode to Joy” might be a perfume - were rendered speechless when they heard the chamber orchestra rehearsing before they came onstage; for so many, they had never heard anything like it. Here are some photos from the rehearsal.
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In the last three photos, Roddy Russell, Jr., a percussionist from Philippa Schuyler Middle School's steel pan ensemble (Brooklyn), got a few pointers. Roddy then played right along with the Philharmonic musicians, his inspiring teacher, Nyasha Rhoden, at his side. |
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Roddy wasn't the only one who had a memorable experience!
First and foremost: the wonderful young people!
Also (r. to l.): Theodore Wiprud, Director, Education Department, NY Philharmonic;
Barbara Hawes, Curator, NY Philharmonic Archives; William Kasuli, Arts
Coordinator, Region 4 NYC Department of Education; David Barg.
Also (r. to l.): Theodore Wiprud, Director, Education Department, NY Philharmonic;
Barbara Hawes, Curator, NY Philharmonic Archives; William Kasuli, Arts
Coordinator, Region 4 NYC Department of Education; David Barg.