When I was in high school in Binghamton (upstate NY) in the late 1960s, my sister Leslie, another black teenage girl, and I were invited to visit the classroom of the junior high school in suburban Vestal. The reason, if I’m remembering correctly (and it was over 40 years ago) was that the only black teenagers they saw were ones on television, and in those days, that was mighty few.
Interestingly, the male teacher of this music class was black, who was likely the only one, and therefore one more than there was at the time at Binghamton Central HS.
We sat and talked and answered questions, and the session seemingly did what it was intended to do, i.e., to let the Vestal kids get to know us as people. This was neither the first nor the last time my sister and I were involved in such an ambassadorship.
What was most interesting to me, though, is that they had put out an album of music, pressed onto vinyl. It was mostly classical and public domain folk tunes. The cover, though, was blank. they gave us each a copy and I remember coloring it with a bunch of geometric designs. And while I’m not sure I still have my copy, my sister definitely has hers.
One of the songs on the album was Hallelujah from Christ on the Mount of Olives by Beethoven, and it was amazingly competent for 12- and 13-year-olds. I thought of that today because it’s one of the songs we are performing for Easter this morning.
Here are a few versions:
Piano and choir
With orchestra- soft (crank it up!)
With orchestra
Solo organ
More like we’ll sound like
The teacher’s name was Fitzroy Stewart. He was my teacher in Junior High. He was later “asked to leave” Vestal Schools for having the temerity to request that the audience rise during the singing of the Black National Anthem.
I am Apalachin born and bred, Roger. My heart is still palpitating after reading your story because, although I was there a bit later, I know exactly who you are talking about. Loved that man, still do – and he could conduct the Hallelujah Chorus with his head while playing the piano!! Small world, no? Amy Barlow, Class of 74, Vestal High School (My sisters are Jo, Class of 71, and Beth, Class of 68. Beth was also the first female TV newscaster in Binghamton!!
Yes, Amy, it WAS Fitzroy Stewart! How could I forget that name?! Thanks!
I ‘ve just listened to it! It’s beautiful! Very different from Handel’s Hallelujah though!