PAGE 8...THE VOICE...APRIL 15, 1971
ine arts: sensory response |
THE SENSES OF
SOUND & SYMBOL
GORDON MYERS IN
GOD’S TROMBONE
Students presently submerged in the “rock” beat,
aided and abetted by “The Funky Chicken,” and "The
Push and Pull,” consider the beat and themselves the
very epitome of current “hipdom” and “abreast-
ville.” They offer their reactions and responses
on this page, to five of modern jazz’s all time greats,
and despite the students being bred upon and steeped
within “rock,” they show that all music has certain
universal qualities, and that, if listened to with even a
faint degree of acuteness, all music has something
to say to the senses.
I
Cecil Taylor, “Call,” from Cecil Tavlor
Live at the Cafe Montmartre. Fantasy 60
40, Jimmy Lyons, alto sax, Arthur Murray,
drums.
The music makes me feel lazy. I really don’t
feel like doing anything, but sitting around. Sud
denly, something exciting happens which provokes
me to move. This excitement makes me very up
set. After the excitement is over, the muscles in my
body become relaxed. This means that I can enjoy
the rest of the evening in peace, with no one around
but me and the stillness of the night.
Joyce Bernard
This sound reminds me of a quiet nightclub,which
overlooks a peaceful ocean. The lights in the club
are very dim, and the people appear to be in a deep
trance. This would probably be the type of surround
ing that a person would enjoy if he were feeling
moody.
Cheryl Turner
This kind of music sounds a little jazzy to me.
In a way, it makes me feel unrelaxed in listening to
it. It is kind of far out. It seems like a person is
on a trip and doing wild, crazy thing&k It also has some
psychedelic touches in it.
Runell Cutts
This sound reminded me of a dream that would
not make sense. It created a confused state within
me which made me think of a large city with all its
problems and troubles. All types of people began
to focus in my mind, chanting prayers for our trou
bled world.
Howard Austin
The sound reminded me of a tragedy that was going
to happen, as if someone were sneaking up on a per
son. The playing of horns gave a nightclub air, but
without meaning. It sounded odd as &e music chan
ged sounds at different, echoing like a ceremony
of witch doctors. The theme was ominous, bequeath
ing horror in a sound which had the audience tense
and nervous, anticipating what was going to happen.
Lou Rodgers
IV
Bud Powell, “Stella by Surlight,” from Xhe
Amazing Bud Powell, Roost 412.
This piece sounded very romantic. It sounded as if
the recorder was playing to something very dear to
him. It makes me think of my boyfriend and wish that
he were home. The dominating piano was very ef
fective when played softly.
Ruby Adams
I picture two, young people who are very much
in love as they dance. They are carefree with no
problems. The only thing that matters is to be in one
another's arms, expressing their warm and deep love.
Joyce Bernard
I enjoy listening to this kind of music. It makes me
ponder my romantic moods. It helps me appreciate
beautiful days and warm, soft nights with a loved one.
Ruby McEachen
This sound reminds me of having a quiet dinner
out in a beautiful restaurant with the person you love,
where the environment is lovely and the smell of good
food is in the air.
Yvonne Brown
II
Miles Davis, “Solea,” from Sketches of
Spain. Columbia 8271, arranged and
conducted by Gil Evans.
This type of music makes me think about when I
first started to appreciate all types of sounds. In its
latter stages, it reminds me of Spaniards or bull
fighters, simply because the trumpet in it seems to
lean that way. It is really way out.
Tony Lindsey
This record has a different sound, better than
sound number one. It started off Mexican style. It
has style and when the horn was added, it sounded
like it had a meaning. The rhythm was pleasurable;
the fellow playing the horn played like he was using
music and lyrics blended to tell some deep story.
Lou Rodgers
The sound started off quiet, reminding me of a
harem and exotic dances. The music sends you into
deep meditation, ^^^ere nothing is really being ex
pressed. It just seems to pass through you as though
you were transparent. The mind seems completely
blank; you are unable to focus your attention on one
particular thing.
George Redmon
UI
Ted Macero, “Sounds of May,” from What's New?
Columbia 842, with innovations by the composers-
Ted Macero and Bob Prince.
This sounds like far-out at first, then come the
jazz sounds that are pleasing. It had the catholic
sounds of the church at the beginning - incantations
like fervent prayer. The jazz arSl the catholic sounds
are then mixed together and put me in a melan
choly way. The end sounds like a disaster.
Runell Cutts
This sound makes me think of a very cozy restau
rant. The lights are low and the tables are accen
tuated by soft candlelights. In such a beautiful place
as this, I would desire to be with the man I love.
Cheryl Turner
V
Jimmie Lunceford, “Chopin's Prelude No. 7,” from
Lunceford Special , Columbia 104, arrangements
by Eddie Durham, Roger Sequre, Lonnie Wilfong,
Chappie Willet and Billy Moore.
This sound reminds me of an old time Saturday
Night dance or social. It gives me sort of a gay
feeling and makes me think of some of the happy
times I have had.
Alta Johnson
This sound was another gay piece, and I enjoyed
it very much. It made me feel as if I could get up and
dance to it and its waltz beat.
Ruby Adams
- This sound reminds me of a formal dance given
by wealthy people. The people there are all probably
over forty years of age and they all enjoy soft, sen
timental music.
Cheryl Turner
The sound was one of joy, of people having a good
time. Life to them possesses many treasures and they
live today for today. Tomorrow and yesterday have
no meanings. Everyone's happy and everyone under
stands the joy of being alive, and as each day passes,
he realizes it more and more.
Jacquelin Rogers
A very soothing and relaxing sound. It reminds me
of an evening with my favorite drink and my favorite
man.
Ruby McEachin
This sound puts me in a mellow mood and reminds
me of some show or television movie, centered
around the 1930's when there was a big dance. The
dance floor is full and everyone is doing a slow
waltz. The movie pictures a guy dancing with a lovely,
young lady. This guy looks cool and is wrapping on
the beautiful woman. The woman digs his wrap and
gets very thrilled. At the end of the song, the woman
kisses while they are in the middle of the dance floor.
The others look and applaud. The guy stops kissing
her and looks around with an embarrassed smile.
William Smith
The sound is the type of music that you don’t hear
anymore. Its musicians carry a style of the late 20’s
or 30's. There is a great difference between musi
cians of yesterday and today.
Olene Solomon
EDITOR’S NOTE: The world relation of sounds to
the ears of all is more than apparent here. Regard
less of certain changes in patterns, volumes, harsh
er and sweeter sounds and a hundred other nuances.
Key words in analysis of each sound, pointing toward
oneness of mood, serve to point out the universality
of sounds.
In Cecil Taylor’s “Call,” all three listeners refer
to way out excitement and a club or trip atmosphere
which in reality, the score suggests.
Of Miles’ “Solea”, two listeners mention Span
iards or bull fighters, while the third mentions “harem
and exotic dances,” the first, the Moslem influence
in old Granada, the second, the very essence of the
dance in Spain. Is this startling from an allium
called Sketches of Spain?
Fayetteville State Uni
versity will present its
fifth and final Lyceum
series on Wednesday,Ap-
ril 14, at 8:00 p.m., in
the J. W. Seabrook Audi
torium. The University
choir will perform with
Gordon Myers, baritone/
composer as soloist in
his own setting of James
Weldon Johnson’s poem,
“God's Trombone” ( a
prayer and seven Negro
sermons). Gordon Myers
is filling a unique role-
that of performing artist
in his own composition.
Gordon Myers is a
graduate of Cornell Col
lege (Iowa), and was a
fellow in voice at Juil-
liard. He was baritone
soloist with the interna
tionally famous New York
Pro Masica for six years
and created the role of
“Kind Darius” in their
production of the 12th
century “The Play of
Daniel.” He researched
and developed and per
forms his very success
ful lecture - recital,
“Songs of Early Amer
icans ' for audiences a-
cross the country.
Gordon Myers is an
associate - professor in
voice in Trenton State
College in New Jersey.
About his work Mr.
Johnson says: “The old-
time Negro preacher of
parts was above all an
orator and in good mea
sure an actor, he had the
power to sweep his hear
ers before him; and so
himself was often swept
away. At such times his
language was not prose
but poetry. Or was from
memories of such
preachers there grew the
idea of this book of poems.
“The old-time Negro
preacher is rapidly pass
ing. I have tried to find
something of him.”
About the music. Dr.
Myers says: “In com
posing the music for
“God s Trombones”, I
have tried to picture in
my mind the dramatic
situation of a preacher
preaching to his congre
gation. As a result, I have
set the book for bari
tone solo as the preach
er and mixed chorus as
the congregation.
“The listener may de
tect the sound of a church
choir, the lilt of a folk
song, or the expressive
ness of Negro Spirituals
and so he should for I
have attempted to blend
these elements into a sin
gle idiom for presentation
in concert form.”
From the University
choir appearing as solo
ists are: Amanda Scott,
mezzo soprano, from
Newark, New Jersey,
Thelma Mitchell, so
prano, from Clayton,
North Carolina.
The program is offer
ed to the public free of
charge.
- Patricia Crain
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