William Grant Still’s 1940 cantata offers musical consideration of injustice in America Thursday, February 20, 2020 By Beth Accomando This weekend, Bodhi Tree Concerts presents "The Long Dark Shadow: A Musical Consideration of Injustice in America." Music and protest have gone hand in hand for centuries but Bodhi Tree Concerts is turning to music that voices its protest through more meditative means. The concert this weekend takes its name from a lyric in William Grant Still's cantata "And They Lynched Him On A Tree." The cantata was composed for a double chorus identified in the score as "White Crowd" and "Negro Men and Women." The story opens with a white crowd that has just lynched a blac
By DAVID L. CODDONWRITER FEB. 20, 2020 5:30 AM The haunting choral cantata “And They Lynched Him On A Tree” will be heard in its San Diego premiere this weekend when Bodhi Tree Concerts presents in honor of Black History Month a program titled “The Long Dark Shadow.” The concerts Saturday at St. James by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in La Jolla and at Downtown Abbey in National City on Sunday will be conducted by David Chase and will feature contralto soloist Judith Malone, guest artist Dale Fleming (who will sing Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit”) and the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Choir conducted by Ken Anderson. “And They Lynched Him On A Tree” was written by William Grant Still, who i
Bodhi Tree Concerts performs intentional kindness through music. When we founded Bodhi Tree our aim was simple: In our small way to give back to the community, serve local artists, and bring people together, through music. Now, as we witness a frightening and steady rise of divisiveness and hate, we find it even more important to find our commonalities, and, as cliché as it sounds, use music as common ground to remind us of our common humanity. Running a grassroots arts nonprofit that is relevant to current affairs while not taking a political stance is tricky. However, programming our season is our way to comment and respond to the world, living our values and hopefully inspiring others to
Still’s ‘And They Lynched Him on a Tree’ is the centerpiece of the nonprofit organization’s next concert By BETH WOODWRITER FEB. 19, 2020 5 PM Stars seemed to align for Bodhi Tree Concerts’ upcoming events. Now in its ninth season of producing benefit concerts showcasing local talent, the nonprofit last year began considering ways to celebrate Black History Month.Diana and Walter DuMelle, the husband-and-wife founders of Bodhi Tree, were approached by their friend, well-known San Diego conductor David Chase. He suggested they collaborate on presenting a work by the late composer/conductor William Grant Still. An African American, Still was a part of the Harlem Renaissance before moving to L
