Page 21 - New West Symphony Oct-Nov 2024 Digital Playbill
P. 21

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      was  assured  from  its  première  in  Carnegie  Hall  in  1893.  Dvořák  plunged  right
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      i in with his work in New York and took the opportunity to continue his interest in
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      indigenous America musical materials—especially Black American spirituals and
      indigenous America musical materials—especially Black American spirituals and
      whatever Native American music—or what passed for that in those days—that he
      whatever Native American music—or what passed for that in those days—that he
      could  fi nd.  Characteristic  “American”  rhythms  are  served  up  as  infl uences  upon
      could  fi nd.  Characteristic  “American”  rhythms  are  served  up  as  infl uences  upon
      Dvořák.  Longfellow’s epic poem,
      Dvořák.  Longfellow’s epic poem, Hiawatha, is adduced as the model for the middle
      movements. And for many years, the famous melody of the slow movement was
      movements. And for many years, the famous melody of the slow movement was
      claimed to be a Black spiritual, when in fact the “spiritual” was born three decades
      claimed to be a Black spiritual, when in fact the “spiritual” was born three decades
      later, when newly-composed words in dialect were set to Dvořák’s immortal tune.
      later, when newly-composed words in dialect were set to Dvořák’s immortal tune.
      Recent  historical  analysis  has  pretty  much  relegated  specifi c  American  elements
      Recent  historical  analysis  has  pretty  much  relegated  specifi c  American  elements
      in the symphony as broad and vaguely inspirational—for most of what had been
      in the symphony as broad and vaguely inspirational—for most of what had been
      previously heard as “From the New World” is now known to be mostly from the
      previously heard as “From the New World” is now known to be mostly from the
      “European World.” In the end, it is best to hear this great composition as essentially
      “European World.” In the end, it is best to hear this great composition as essentially
      Czech in almost every way—Dvořák really couldn’t help being himself!
      Czech in almost every way—Dvořák really couldn’t help being himself!
      © 2015 William E. Runyan
      © 2015 William E. Runyan
      N o t e f r o m p h o t o h i s t o r i a n / v i d e o g r a p h e r J o s e p h S o h m
      Note from photo historian/videographer Joseph Sohm
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      about the NEWORLD presentation: :
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      Throughout time, nations have sometimes been likened to individuals. It’s an easier
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      way to comprehend a nation that is comprised of tens of millions of people. Arnold
      way to comprehend a nation that is comprised of tens of millions of people. Arnold
      Toynbee, a renowned English historian (1889-1975) said it best when he compared the
      Toynbee, a renowned English historian (1889-1975) said it best when he compared the
      birth, growth, maturation and decline of nations to people. This concept of “France”
      birth, growth, maturation and decline of nations to people. This concept of “France”
      as an individual Frenchman or an Englishman representing Great Britain is what led
      as an individual Frenchman or an Englishman representing Great Britain is what led
      me to a ponderous quote by J. Hector St. John Crèvecoeur, a French-American
      me to a ponderous quote by J. Hector St. John Crèvecoeur, a French-American
      farmer who in 1782 published a book, “Letters from an American Farmer.” Here, he
      farmer who in 1782 published a book, “Letters from an American Farmer.” Here, he
      asked:
      asked: “What, then, is the American, this New Man?” To me, this simple question
      is linked to Toynbee’s thesis of a “nation as a person,” with an individual cycle of
      is linked to Toynbee’s thesis of a “nation as a person,” with an individual cycle of
      growth, maturation and decline.
      growth, maturation and decline.
      I thought a better way to understand “this new man, the American” is a way to view our
      I thought a better way to understand “this new man, the American” is a way to view our
      country as an individual person. With this question in mind, for the Bicentennial of the
      country as an individual person. With this question in mind, for the Bicentennial of the
      US Constitution in 1987, I was commissioned by the US Bicentennial Commission on
      US Constitution in 1987, I was commissioned by the US Bicentennial Commission on
      the US Constitution in Philadelphia to write and photograph a multimedia piece that
      the US Constitution in Philadelphia to write and photograph a multimedia piece that
      I entitled “NEWORLD” (musically based upon Dvořák’s “New World” Symphony).  I
      I entitled “NEWORLD” (musically based upon Dvořák’s “New World” Symphony).  I
      contracted William Shatner to read my narration in 1987, and it is this script combined
      contracted William Shatner to read my narration in 1987, and it is this script combined
      with all-new motion imagery that I have taken across the 50 states over the past
      with all-new motion imagery that I have taken across the 50 states over the past
      fi ve  years  that  will  be  on  display  during  New  West  Symphony’s  November  2024
      fi ve  years  that  will  be  on  display  during  New  West  Symphony’s  November  2024
      concerts—all as part of the upcoming 250  Anniversary of America. The New West concerts—all as part of the upcoming 250 th
      Symphony concerts will be illustrated throughout with drone, timelapse and video o
      S y m p h o n y c o n c e r t s w i l l b e i l l u s t r a t e d t h r o u g h o u t w i t h d r o n e , t i m e l a p s e a n d v i d e
      imagery spanning the 50 states.
      imagery spanning the 50 states.
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