Shelley Hanson has orchestrated a new setting of these beautiful songs for chamber winds and mezzo soprano. My favorite movement is at 2:50!
Last May, I worked on a concert at a local high school in Minnesota that also served as an r-word campaign. You can visit www.r-word.org for more info. The mission of the r-word campaign is to encourage people to:
"pledge and support the elimination of the derogatory use of the r-word from everyday speech and promote the acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities." The r-word, if you are wondering, is "retard" or "retarded." The campaign at the school proved to be wildly successful, but I had one comment that evening that caught me off guard: "What word do I use instead?" I don't think this person was in any way trying to be malicious; I believe they were truly inquisitive about trying to find vocabulary to be more sensitive. I formed a response that I later wrote down, and I'd like to share: "I believe some people wonder, "If I can't use the word "retard," what do I call "them" without offending anyone?" That's legitimate, especially with the prevelance of the descriptor "mental retardation" that was used for so long. The problem now is the nonchalant and negative way in which people use the word. Mostly, try to focus on the PERSON, and don't get too hung up on the details of terminology. We're all going to make mistakes, and nothing will ever please everyone. Saying someone has an "intellectual disability" may be a better option if you're searching for a term. Another thing to remember is people-first language. I would never say, "My Down Syndrome brother;" rather, I'd say, "My brother has Down Syndrome." But honestly, before I told you that, I would probably tell you how my brother loves musicals and belts out Wicked and Phantom of the Opera at the top of his lungs while accompanying himself on keyboard. I'd tell you how he loves to steal the show at a dance. I'd tell you about his job at the coffee shop in Tahlequah. I'd tell you he's building a time machine, and that he loves science and history. I might mention how grumpy he gets sometimes, and how stubborn he is. Want him to talk your ear off? Just mention Indiana Jones, Back to the Future, or Zelda. I'd tell you he's the jokster of the family. Then, maybe I'd mention he has Down Syndrome." ___________________________________________ Ok, before you start to feel "inspired" by what I've written, watch this: http://www.ted.com/talks/stella_young_i_m_not_your_inspiration_thank_you_very_much I've been thinking a lot about this issue since our r-word campaign concert. I in no way de-value what we achieved, what everyone felt, and the lives that were changed by making music together. The event proved to be emotional for most (including myself), enough so that we were moved to tears. I was thinking the day after though, "I hope there is a point where this type of concert will not make people so emotional because that means it will have become more common." I think joy in music making will always be elevated by inclusion, but maybe the novelty of inclusion in our current social atmosphere causes people without disabilities to say those with them are "inspirational." As the novelty wears off, it just becomes "normal." |
AuthorMusician, Conductor, Educator Archives
May 2015
Categories |