A recital in many ways

We go to a lot of sports events here at Lehigh. We have not been going to as many music events – particularly “classical” music events.  It’s in no small part that western art music is so darn white. Dead white (mostly male) composers, living white (mostly male) composers, white performers, conductors and audiences. It’s a bit of a bummer since there is so much awesome classical music – much of which completely informs the way we all hear music in the US today.

So, when one of Heather’s students, who is also a Gryphon (aka RA) in Sayre, and who is also black, let us know her senior recital of 20th century art song was today, there was no way we were going to miss it.

Frankly, I was concerned that our kids wouldn’t last.  I’ve tried classical/art songs with them in the car with very limited success.  And the audience expectations for live art music are absurd (and as a historical side note – sitting there, quietly dressed up with rules abou when you clap, is a pretty recent occurrence – and in my opinion one of the major reasons classical concerts are dying…but I digress), the lyrics often in foreign languages, the music in a “musical language” that  can also be a bit foreign to our ears.

But Arielle Leacock did an amazing job tonight.  Her diction in French and Italian was gentle but precise. After loosening up on the first song cycle, her pitch was spot on and her soprano filigree was executed  beautifully. Her voice is not large, but she makes good use of that characteristic and doesn’t push it – she makes you lean in, listen, pay attention and grab each word.

And our kids did just that.  Though Meera said a few times to Heather “…what did she really say?!?!” when it was in French (and those around us chuckled at that), the boys sat enraptured through the entire thing.

To see this beautiful young black woman in a gorgeous pink dress pull off a senior recital of 20th century Spanish, French, Italian and American art music with nothing but piano accompaniment.  That was really amazing.