America\u2019s rich musical heritage has been, and will continue to be, a product of the many impulsive fusions of the diverse social and cultural traditions that have come to this country over time. One example is early jazz, which grew from roots, blues and ragtime traditions. Its performers\u2019 music styles evolved over time and their new melodies bridged the cultural and social margins that often segregated the country\u2019s diverse urban and rural communities throughout the 20th century. These musical poets\u2019 performances frequently deepened the contours and expressions of their unspoken artistic dialogues with their audiences, and through their art brought people from different walks of life together.<\/p>\n
The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music will continue exploring America\u2019s evolving artistic dialogues of race and identity for this month\u2019s Black History Month. The Center is sponsoring a special performance by the Chicago Modern Orchestra Project ensemble on February 24th, two historic silent movie showings on February 24th and 25th, lectures by Ren\u00e9e Baker on her work as a composer and conductor for the University\u2019s cinema studies and music students on February 25th and 26th, and children\u2019s educational programming for the King Elementary School students on February 26th. The three days of programming will kick off with a special premier performance on February 24th of Ren\u00e9e Bakers\u2019 new film score composed for the newly discovered silent movie, Borderline. Kenneth Macpherson\u2019s visually compelling movie about interracial and LGBT relationships during the 1920s stars Paul and Eslanda Robeson. The film\u2019s showing will be accompanied by a live performance of Ren\u00e9e Bakers\u2019 thirty-member Chicago Modern Orchestra Project ensemble. Following the showing of the film, there will be a 45-minute discussion with Ren\u00e9e Baker and the audience about her work on this movie and her continuing interest in reviving historical silent movies with her new film scores. <\/p>\n
On February 25th,, Ms. Baker will give presentations on the use of musical and physical gesture to School of Music conducting students at 9am, and will meet with Janice Collin\u2019s, Latrelle Bright\u2019s and Monique Rivera\u2019s Cinema Studies students at 10:30am to discuss her work as a composer creating a new sound score for the 1930 film, Borderline. That evening she will show David Starkman and Frank Perugini\u2019s 1927 silent film, The Scar of Shame, staring Harry Henderson, Norman Johnstone, and Ann Kennedy, at Urbana\u2019s Independent Media Center at 7:00pm. This second film is considered one of the best independent black films produced at the height of the silent movie era. It dramatically portrays the societal struggles of individuals seeking and eventually failing to improve their black urban lives in America during the 1920s. At the time, this film was a unique collaborative production that utilized a black cast and an interracial production team called the \u201cColored Players.\u201d The Scar of Shame was one of only three films produced by this company. Ren\u00e9e Baker\u2019s new film score will accompany this historical movie, which draws its musical inspiration from the many societal issues presented in this historical film. Following the film\u2019s showing, Ms. Baker will talk about her work on this film with the audience.<\/p>\n
On February 26th, Ms. Baker will work with the second and fifth grade students at King Elementary School on two different educational activities using storytelling and music improvisation to express personal identity. Finally, Ms. Baker will meet with the University\u2019s athletic bands at 5:00pm to show and discuss her work on the silent film, \u201cNatural Born Gambler,\u201d to open up a conversation with the students about the use of music to bridge issues of race and identity. <\/p>\n