Peanuts by Charles Schultz, from Aspen Times, July 11, 2009

Albert Schweitzer in Aspen

In July 1949, Robert Maynard Hutchins, Chancellor of the University of Chicago and his friend Walter Paepcke, also of Chicago, held a unique event of words and music to mark the 200^th birthday of Johann von Goethe. The Goethe Bicentennial Celebration, held in the small mining town of Aspen, Colorado featured music inspired by Goethe performed by the Minneapolis Symphony under Dimitri Mitropoulos and speeches by great humanists of the time, including Dr. Albert Schweitzer.

This event was so successful that the tradition of gathering great music and great thought leaders in Aspen was begun that very year resulting in the founding of The Aspen Institute and Aspen Festival.

This weekend, the third part of "Albert Schweitzer Portrait’s" journey took us to Aspen, Colorado to join in their 60th Anniversary Celebration.

On July 11, 2009, the Aspen Chapel, the Aspen Music Festival and School presented “An Albert Schweitzer Portrait” which featured performances of Bach and the Aspen premiere of our Albert Schweitzer Portrait in its organ version.

The musical program was organized and performed by Aspen Chapel organist Susan Nicholson. The narrator was Irene Gubrud, who has been on the Aspen School voice faculty for 30 years.

Ms. Gubrud was eloquent in her reading of Schweitzer’s inspiring words. In 2008, Ms. Gubrud founded the Aspen Musician Peace Project, which “advocates using the unifying power of music to help bring peace and harmony to this world.”

Dr. Lachlan Forrow, President of the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship, Dr. Lisa Wong of LSO, Alan Fletcher, President of the Aspen Festival and School, soprano Irene Gubrud and organist Susan Nicholson gathered following the performance.

On Sunday, Dr. Forrow and Dr. Wong returned to Aspen Chapel to discuss Schweitzer and his legacy of music, medicine and service with a congregation of 50 Aspen residents. Dr. Wong offered solo viola works by Bach. The remarkable weekend ended with a visit to Dr. Albert Schweitzer's statue, prominently displayed in Paepcke Park.

Albert Schweitzer Portrait in Chicago

In 1949, Dr. Albert Schweitzer traveled to Chicago to receive an Honorary Doctorate degree from the University of Chicago. On that day, Rockefeller Chapel was filled to its capacity of 2400. Another 2600 spilled out of the chapel onto the lawn to hear Dr. Schweitzer's words.

ALBERT SCHWEITZER
An interpreter who has revived for his own generation the vision of greatness: as scholar, interpreting the works of Jesus; as musician, interpreting the works of Bach; as humanist, interpreting the writings of Goethe; as historian, presenting in philosophic terms the meaning of history; and as Christian medical missionary, rendering distinguished service to Equatorial Africa.
--Original language conferring the honorary degree from the University of Chicago to Albert Schweitzer, July 11, 1949.

As part of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of Schweitzer's visit to America, on June 6, 2009, the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship presented "The Albert Schweitzer Legacy: A Gala Concert and Forum." The concert included works of Bach, Sandstrom and the World Premiere of Albert Schweitzer Portrait in its organ version, performed by Thomas Weisflog on Rockefeller Chapel's newly renovated Skinner organ. The text was read by Elizabeth Davenport, Dean of the Chapel.

The two versions, one for full orchestra, and the other for organ, are very different yet equally compelling. The hope is that each version will find its own venues for performance.

For all of the colors achievable by such a remarkable instrument, the organ version cannot capture the timbres of a full orchestra. Thus after the organ premiere, Jonathan McPhee, Thomas Weisflog and I met with Gary Fry, who had so brilliantly orchestrated both versions. Gary has now created a 3rd version, which adds a string quartet to augment the sounds of the organ and lighten the challenging score for the organist.

Revisiting Albert Schweitzer Portrait

Dr. David Satcher narrates at
the World Premiere on May 9, 2009


"When I hear a baby's cry of pain change into a normal cry of hunger, to my ears that is the most beautiful music."

This is what Albert Schweitzer said:

"Joy, sorrow, tears, lamentation, laughter-- to all these music gives voice, but in such a way that we are transported from the world of unrest to a world of peace, and see reality in a new way."

He was born in a small town in Germany that after the war became part of France, and was awarded degrees in theology, philosophy, and music. An urgent appeal for physicians in French Equatorial Africa inspired him to study medicine and surgery at the University of Strasbourg. Schweitzer later wrote:

"I wanted to become a doctor in order to be able to work without words...My new occupation would be not to talk about the gospel of love, put to put it into practice."

In Africa, while traveling up the Ogooué River from his Lambaréné hospital, his thoughts crystallized into a new philosophy. He wrote:

"There flashed upon my mind, unforeseen and unsought, the phrase 'Reverence for Life'...The iron door had yielded. The path in the thicket had become visible...I knew that a system of values which concerns itself only with our relationship to other people is incomplete and therefore lacking in power for good. Only by means of reverence for life can we establish a spiritual and humane relationship with both people and all living creatures within our reach. Only in this fashion can we avoid harming others, and, within the limits of our capacity, go to their aid whenever they need us..."

For contradicting the common wisdom of his time, Schweitzer was branded a radical.
But the spirit to serve was the bedrock that sustained him. This is what he said.
Albert Schweitzer said,

"One thing I know: the only ones among you who will be truly happy are those who have sought and found how to serve. If a man loses his reverence for any part of life, he will lose his reverence for all of life."

He urged young people to "grow into your ideals so that life can never rob you of them."

Albert Schweitzer received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1952 and in his acceptance speech this is what he said:

"We now know how terrible an evil war is in our time, and we must spare no effort to prevent its recurrence. Only through the spirit can this be done. A humanitarian spirit abides within all men like tinder ready to be lit, waiting only for a spark. May the nations, in their efforts to maintain peace, do their utmost to give the spirit time to grow and to act."

This is what Albert Schweitzer said, this is what he said:

"A human being is never a total and permanent stranger to another human being. We belong to one another. We can no longer live for ourselves alone. We must realize that all life is valuable and that we are united to all life."

Schweitzer in America; Longwood Symphony Orchestra and the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship

When I hear a baby's cry of pain change into a normal cry of hunger, to my ears, that is the most beautiful music.

--Dr. Albert Schweitzer

by Lisa M. Wong, M.D.

In 1991, an important and lasting relationship was forged between the Longwood Symphony and the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship (ASF). Dr. Lachlan Forrow, Judge Mark Wolf, and I got together to consider the work of Albert Schweitzer and its relevance to the city of Boston. Lachlan had been a Schweitzer Fellow in the hospital in Lambarene, Gabon while still a medical student in the 1980s. He had returned to Boston inspired by his work there and committed himself to champion Dr. Schweitzer's ideals; Schweitzer's sense of community, empathy and compassion permanently affected the way Dr. Forrow practices medicine--and lives his life..

Dr. Albert Schweitzer was a musician, theologian, and finally a physician. He wove all of these parts into his life's journey. Today, the members of the LSO are traveling along Schweitzer's path. Music is the first influence in their lives, followed by a desire to make a difference, and a sense of compassion, leading to a career in caregiving.

In October 1991, LSO and ASF put on a two-day symposium that reflected on the life and ideals of Albert Schweitzer. Community leaders gathered to consider the health care needs and the health care disparities in Boston. We utilized as many public spaces in the city as we could find. Organized by Lachlan Forrow, the days were filled with lectures and brown bag lunches with young people, field workers, and experts on the topics of AIDS, Domestic Violence, Homelessness, Children's health care, Bach and Reverence for Life.

The event had lasting effects on everyone in the community. ASF launched its now-national Schweitzer Fellowship that has guided thousands of young health care students to create and participate in health-related community service projects. LSO has committed itself to community engagement throught music through its Healing Art of Music Program.

Albert Schweitzer Portrait: When Longwood Symphony was awarded the 2007 MetLife Award for Excellence in Community Engagement by the League of American Orchestras, conductor Jonathan McPhee and I traveled to Nashville to accept the award. While there, we met the remarkable Thurston Moore, a man of passion, vision, and devotion to the work of Albert Schweitzer.

Thurston spoke of his dream to create a new work, Albert Schweitzer Portrait for narrator and orchestra, inspired by Aaron Copland's Lincoln Portrait. He envisioned a work with such universal appeal that it would be played across the country, both in its orchestral version and in an even more accessible organ version that could be performed in churches throughout the country. The work would celebrate the 60th anniversary of Schweitzer's 1949 visit to the United States when he visited Boston, Chicago, Aspen, and New York.

The music that is the DNA of the new work is a set of songs by American composer and songwriter Gene Scheer. One such song, Gene's American Anthem has been played at Presidential Inaugurations and is a central musical idea running through filmmaker Ken Burns' series "The War."

Copland's Influence

The next step was to find the narrator. What voice do we choose to bring Schweitzer's words to life? Someone who is also on the journey of medicine and service. Former Surgeon Genera, Dr, David Satcher was invted to are the words of Schweitzer at the world premiere performance. He has devoted his life to advocating for America's most vulnerable and medically underserved.

Future Journey On May 9, 2009, Albert Schweitzer Portrait will begin its musical journey with a performance by the Longwood Symphony and Dr. David Satcher at NEC's Jordan Hall in Boston (www.longwoodsymphony.org) . This will be followed by the World Premiere of the organ arrangement of Albert Schweitzer Portrait at the University of Chicago. Plans are underway for the work to also be performed in Aspen and New York. This would complete the same journey that Schweitzer himself traced in America sixty years ago.

One thing I know: the only ones among you who will be truly happy are those who have found a way to serve. --Albert Schweitzer

LSO on Call: A healing experience for the Whole Community

by Lisa Wong, M.D.

A thought occurred to me last Saturday afternoon, as I made my way through the rain to the warm and sunny little room that is the Child Life space in Boston's Shriners Hospital for Children --that some might find it curious that on a day off from the hospital, so many of us are instead returning to the hospital.
Why?
The reason: To play music for the kids.

The answer is more complex than that, and summed up in the motto of the Longwood Symphony, that we are "Healing the Community through Music." It's because the healing goes both ways: healing for the patients, their families, yes. But also for the caregivers and musicians themselves.

On April 11, six musicians spent an afternoon with the children of Shriners Hospital, sharing music and laughter and a bit of themselves. I got to go along for the blog.

First, the musicians introduce their instruments: "This is a viola. It's a litttle bigger than a violin, sounds a little lower, and is even more fun to play!"

"This is a flute. It's called a "woodwind" even though it is silver, because the first flutes used to be made of wood, and the name stuck."

Then they introduce themselves:
"I'm studying the heart."
"I'm studying the brain and the nervous system."
"I'm doing research on cancer."
"I used to be a dentist, then I started a school for little children to learn the violin."

"I am a pediatric intern and I remembered visiting this hospital when I was a medical student. I always wanted to come back to play for you."

And finally, the real magic begins. The musicians share music, first in duo combinations-- two violas, two violins, flute and violin--and finally in larger groups of four and five.

Then they invite the children to touch the instruments, learn how the music is made, and be a part of the music-making themselves.

Stephanie Clark, a Shriners Child Life specialist and Music Therapist, (also a French horn player), explains to us that the kids are from the Honduras, Peru, and Boston. Some have spent months in the hospital as they recover from their burns. Others have been flown in and out of their home countries over many years for the multiple revisions necessary after severe burns.

While the hands and faces of these youngsters bear the painful scars from another day in another place, on this day, their smiles, enthusiasm, and curiosity lifts us all: patients, families, caregivers, and musicians alike.

That's Healing our Community through Music.

[Thanks to LSO on Call musicians: Madeleine Baverstam, Mabel Chan, Anand Jagannath, Daniela Krause, Andrea Spencer, Gwendoline Thornblade]

Visual Violins- Art for Healing

Two years ago, Longwood Symphony Orchestra held "VISUAL VIOLINS," a special fundraising event that brought together artists, musicians and healers to create art for healing.

Twelve artists were given violins to create into art, which were auctioned to raise funds for the cancer care centers throughout Boston. A Virtuoso Violin was signed by violin soloists and Yo-Yo Ma and a Sports Violin was signed by the 2006 Red Sox.

At that time, Boston Medical Center was just completing its state-of-the-art cancer center bringing "Exceptional Care without Exception" right into the heart of the inner city.

With the funds raised by LSO that evening we became a sponsor of the Joseph Moakley Cancer Center and got our name on their donor wall! When the center had its official opening in the fall of 2007, LSO was there, providing chamber music for the celebration.

****************
This year, the journey continues. "Visual Violins II: Creativity, Leadership, and Healing" will raise funds for LSO's Healing Art of Music Program, a unique program that empowers smaller medical charities to raise awarness and funds through our concert performances.

This time we have created the Academic Violin, which bears the signatures of the presidents, provosts, adn medical school deans from all four of our Massachusetts medical school


Dean Karen Antman, BU School of Medicine, herself a musician and parent of musicians











Harvard President Drew Faust and Longwood Symphony President Lisa Wong