Rochester Review
March–April 2010
Vol. 72, No. 4
Story as a PDF
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In Review
There’s an “inherent musicality” to the words of former slave, abolitionist, and longtime Rochester resident Frederick Douglass, says Jeffrey Tucker, director of the Frederick Douglass Institute and an associate professor of English.
A new CD, A Sky with More Stars—Suite for Frederick Douglass, proves his point, blending Douglass’s stirring writings and speeches with interpretative jazz inspired by his work.
Composers Tyrone Brown and John Blake wrote the original music for the CD, which is performed by the Tyrone Brown Ensemble. Interspersed with the jazz are selections from Douglass’s orations and publications, read by University Vice President Paul Burgett ’68E, ’76E (PhD), who is also a scholar of African-American music and an adjunct professor of music.
“His themes are as relevant today as they were two centuries ago,” says Burgett of Douglass. Brown says music was an important form of entertainment for slaves. “They did not have modern instruments—at best, a violin,” says Brown, who adds that Douglass played the violin, as did his wife and grandson, an accomplished musician. In honor of that, the violin has a lead role on most tracks. Part of a series featuring African Americans whose papers are preserved at the University, the recording includes liner notes by Tucker and graphic design work by Melissa Mead of the Department of Rare Books and Special Collections. Recorded by John Trueberger at the Eastman School’s studios, the CD was produced and edited by Richard Peek, the director of Rare Books and Special Collections.
