#TakeTwoKnees: The Week in Hope-Inspiring Spontaneous Music Online, Op. 12
EDITOR'S NOTE: We offer this post in solidarity with the Black community on the eve of Blackout Tuesday. We will not post anything additional on Tuesday.
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The great civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said it simply and eloquently: "We cannot walk alone."
This week we offer a compilation of the musical statements generated in response to New York Philharmonic Principal Clarinetist Anthony McGill’s "Take Two Knees" challenge (#TakeTwoKnees), which has inspired musicians around the globe to post performances on social media to support the cause of justice. We've paired each one with a quote by Dr. King.
#TakeTwoKnees. Image ©Violinist.com.
Violinist Melissa White plays John Rosamond Johnson’s "Lift Every Voice and Sing."
"Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality."
Violinist Johnny Gandelsman plays Igor Stravinsky’s "Elegie."
"I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality."
Clarinetist Marquise Bradley plays the post-Civil War African-American song "Oh, Freedom!"
"A man dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is right. A man dies when he refuses to stand up for justice. A man dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is true."
Violinist Harumi Rhodes plays an excerpt inspired by the Jewish communal prayer "Kol Nidre."
"I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant."
Violist Adrian Anantawan plays the Sarabande from J.S. Bach’s Cello Suite No. 5 (transcribed for viola).
"If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward."
Cellist Karen Ouzounian and composer Lembit Beecher, play Beecher’s "Lullaby."
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
Flutist Jennifer Grim plays "Going Home," extracted from the Largo of Antonín Dvorák’s Symphony #9.
"History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people."
Flutist Demarre McGille plays "Deep River," an anonymous spiritual of African-American origin.
"There comes a time when people get tired of being pushed out of the glittering sunlight of life's July and left standing amid the piercing chill of an alpine November."
Violinist Rachel Barton Pine plays "Nobody Knows the Trouble I See," an African-American spiritual that originated in the time of slavery.
"The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: 'If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?' But the good Samaritan reversed the question: 'If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?’"
Violinist Yulia Ziskel plays John Williams’ theme from "Schindler’s List."
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
Bassoonist Daniel Matsukawa plays Sam Cooke’s "A Change is Gonna Come."
"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear."
Violist Caleb Georges plays a solo excerpt from the second movement of Antonín Dvorák's "American" Quintet Op. 97.
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. No one really knows why they are alive until they know what they’d die for."
Sincere thanks to these artists for their heartfelt, inspired, poignant performances.
"Only in the darkness can you see the stars." — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Replies
To 164: What a lovely comment. The artists we featured, and the many more who have contributed to #TakeTwoKnees, are truly inspirational. It is my fervent hope that your nephew will discover the same inspiration and, in doing so, find a way to channel his hurt and anger... which I'm sure feels absolutely overwhelming to him right now. I carry you both in my thoughts.
Al the featured performances were beautiful. I was particularly moved by Melissa White's simple, but powerful, rendition of "the Black national anthem"
This is a wonderful compilation! I salute Mr. McGill for creating this challenge and for all the musicians who responded.
To 87: I agree. And Melissa's performance was so moving.
To 17: It is truly a wonderful, positive challenge that Mr. McGill created. So glad you liked our choices! And there are many more terrific performances available on Facebook.
Very, very moving!!
I particularly liked the diversity of the players and their statements, along with the likely "outsiderness" that each probably feels as they identify with the current situation. It's beautiful to see everyone standing/kneeling together in harmony and in support of the truth that everyone matters and that justice matters.
"Music hath charms to sooth a savage breast", as William Congreve said. Thank you to all the wonderful musicians who used their God-given talents to help sooth our heavy hearts.
Speaking of taking a knee, I saw it proposed that the City of Minneapolis could atone (however partially) for its poor relationship with African-Americans by hiring Colin Kaepernick to play for the Vikings, who evidently could use his talent. Not a bad idea.
What a brilliant and emotional post Diana. The music was as magnificent as the quotes were eloquent and poignant. And what a beautiful tribute this is as the sound of these instruments so closely resembles the cry of the human voice. Music Thank you.
To 152: Agreed!
To 207: Yes, standing/kneeling in harmony was wonderful to see.
To 102: Beautifully said.
To Paul: Interesting.
To Joe: I had a similar reaction when listing to these musical tributes. Once you strip away the beauty of multiple instruments playing in harmony and listen to a simple line delivered by one musician, it is incredibly reminiscent of the cry of a human voice.
If music be the food of LOVE, play on! And give me surfeit of it.... For what else captures the heart and expands it and heals it. To you and all the artists-play on and keep the healing going....
To 113: A truly beautiful message which I know the artists will appreciate! Thank you!
Just stunning and heart-wrenching, to hear these people express their pain and sorrow through their instruments, and then to bow their heads and bodies in honor of those who have fallen, but will not be forgotten.
D.A.
This is a very powerful and moving show of solidarity with the Black community. Each performance is individually emotional, and collectively nothing short of amazing. This truly shows the power of music. I think it was also very encouraging that the common themes In the personal statements were that love will win out over hate, and that good people should unfailingly stand up for what is right.
The incredible outpouring of support, encouragement, and demand for true change across all spectrums of society is a testament to how far we have come, just as as the horrible actions in Minnesota, Kentucky, Omaha, and other places are a grim reminder of how far we still have to go.
Thank you for sharing this for everyone.
To D.A.: You've summed it up perfectly. Thank you.
To Richard: Yes, the personal statements from Dr. King are as relevant today as when he first made them. And I agree with you wholeheartedly about the power of music. Thank you.
Thank you and all the musicians who participated in this soul soothing ministry of music,
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June 2, 2020 at 05:51 PM · I have been trying to tell my nephew, a young African American cellist, and SPA alum, that one of the best ways he can channel his hurt and anger in this moment, is by using his gift to the fullest. I'm not sure how well I got through to him, so thank you for demonstrating it for him so beautifully.