Deep River

Marian Anderson was called

The "Voice of the Century" back in her time.

But her rise to fame and approval

Certainly wasn't an easy climb.

 

She knew when she was six years old

And sang in a choir at church that she

Planned to devote her life to music.

A well-trained singer was what she'd be.

 

The Philadelphia Musical

Academy was her glorious dream.

But she was told that "colored people"

Weren't allowed--a recurring theme.

 

And so she found a voice teacher

And tried to perform wherever she could.

Dance halls were a popular venue

Throughout the Harlem neighborhood.

 

When her New York Town Hall debut

Bombed as critics picked her apart,

In 1927 she sailed

To Europe, where she could polish her art.

 

Her time in Sweden, Germany,

Paris and London was time well spent.

Having developed her artistry,

Anderson triumphed wherever she went.

 

Germany in the 1930s…

Hitler's power grab gave her pause.

Anderson was dismayed to hear him

Praise America's Jim Crow laws.

 

Back to America she sailed,

Where she would be celebrated.

To packed houses she sang, although

Most of the venues were segregated.

 

At one moving performance Anderson

Entered the stage and faced the crowd.

Then she turned to the black section

With deep humility and bowed.

 

In 1939 the plan:

A concert at Constitution Hall.

However, the DAR° refused

To let her perform. Another wall.

 

She gave a concert instead on the steps

Of the Lincoln Memorial to powerful raves.

A giant crowd attended. Her voice

Was also transmitted on radio waves.

 

In 1950 Anderson married

Orpheus Fisher. Unusual name.

Way back when she was starting out,

Orpheus had been her old flame.

 

In 1955 the Met°°

Broke the color bar. That year

Anderson sang in an opera--

For some the capstone of her career.

 

In '63 once again

Marian Anderson broadened her scope

And sang at the March on Washington.

She refused to give up hope.

 

She died at the age of ninety-six.

For many years the world was blessed

With having this diva, who knew first-hand

What it was like to be oppressed.

Her rich, expressive, contralto voice

Had a vibrant, velvety sound.

She sang with beauty and poise and grace.

No wonder she was so renowned!

 

Listen to her sing "Deep River."

Note her phrasing, her voice control.

How can you hear her and not feel her voice

Penetrate your very soul?

 

-by Bob B (2-22-21)

 

°Daughters of the American Revolution

°°The New York Metropolitan Opera