Esteemed veteran actor and orator James Earl Jones was the special guest narrator for the 2008-2009 ComEd Classical Tapestry season kickoff event held at Symphony Center.
Esteemed veteran actor and orator James Earl Jones was the special guest narrator for the 2008-2009 ComEd Classical Tapestry season kickoff event held at Symphony Center.
Jones accompanied the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Saturday night, under the direction of guest conductor, James Gaffigan.
The first of three concerts in this year’s “mosaic of music” series, Saturday’s performance paid tribute to Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday.
Hymn tunes and songs that Lincoln often sang were presented during the first portion of the concert: "The Battle Cry of Freedom," "Home," "Sweet Home," "Awakening, a brief selection from Roy Harris’ Symphony No. 6 (Gettysburg)," and "Selections from Abraham Lincoln (A Likeness in Symphony Form)" by Robert Russell Bennett consisted of "His Affection and His Faith" and "His Humor and His Weakness."
Jones followed the musical homage with a narration of Aaron Copland’s "Lincoln Portrait" that was written as part of the war effort in 1942. Jones proved his profound adeptness as an articulate speaker who brought spirituality and artistic essence to Copland’s work.
As a youth, Jones had a speech impediment.
______
To read the rest of this article, subscribe to our digital or paper edition. For previous editions, contact us for details.
Copyright 2009 Chicago Defender. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
About Post Author
