The Chicago Sinfonietta played its annual Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. concert in Wentz Concert Hall on Sunday, Jan. 17, complete with guest appearances.
The concert included appearances by the Apostolic Church of God Sanctuary Choir, and Grammy winning composer Victor Wooten, who played the electrical bass in the Illinois premiere of his piece “The Bass Whisperer: Concerto for Electrical Bass & Orchestra.”
It not only honored Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. two days after his birthday, but it also honored the late Chicago Sinfonietta founder, Maestro Paul Freeman.
Before the concert began, Edward Moore, a cello player who has played with the Chicago Sinfonietta for 26 years, discussed Maestro Freeman the man, as well as Freeman the activist.
“The Chicago Sinfonietta has been a part of the Chicago area’s cultural events for long enough that people in our audience today, and even some people on the stage, do not know the city without the Sinfonietta,” Moore said.
“It’s easy to forget what a radical idea this orchestra was and what a unique organization this orchestra is.”
Moore continued to say, “When many people were happy to pretend the need for diversity on the concert stage did not exist or did not matter, Paul Freeman acknowledged that need and did something about it.
Through his activism, Paul Freeman literally changed the complexion of classical music in Chicago.”
Freeman founded an organization, “in which women held positions of authority, in which nearly every musical tradition on the planet was embraced and the music of black peoples was performed outside of Black History Month,” said Moore.
The performance included seven different songs, showing all different types of music from classical, to gospel, to jazz. The pieces performed included “It Ain’t Over,” “Glory,” and “Fourth Chickasaw Variations,” which a composition based on “I Been ‘Buked and I Been Scorned,’” which was sung before Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech was given.
Wooten’s rendition of “Amazing Grace” on electric bass stole the show with pieces of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech played over it which left many members of the audience in tears because of the power of the message.
The concert resonated with many audience members including Maria Requena (’18). “I think it was really great to have a different array of music because you had some jazzy things and then more soulful music and more serious music and it was nice to see the diversity there.”
“MLK week and performances like this are important because often times they are overlooked, and by making a big deal out of it and using every kind of talent that everyone has and bringing them together, it shows that, really, we’re all just humans who need to connect with each other,” said Requena.
