Marian Anderson: “Once in a Hundred Years”

This work was sponsored by a Humanities New York Public Humanities Grant.
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0:00 Credits & Introduction
0:20 I: South Philadelphia
4:03 II: An Emerging Artist
7:42 III: Conquering Europe
12:12 IV: Hurok
15:20 V: The Battle of Constitution Hall
22:05 VI: Orpheus
25:57 VII: Opera
28:18 VIII: A National Treasure
📚 Sources/further reading:
The main source for this book is Allan Keiler's definitive biography, "Marian Anderson: A Singer's Journey." Additional information courtesy my visit in summer 2023 to the Marian Anderson Studio in Danbury, CT.
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Music:
- "Ave Maria" by Franz Schubert, performed by Marian Anderson
- "Every Time I Feel the Spirit," traditional, performed by Marian Anderson
- "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands," traditional, performed by Marian Anderson
- "Oh! What a Beautiful City," traditional, performed by Marian Anderson
- "My Country, ’Tis of Thee," written by Samuel Francis Smith, performed by Marian Anderson
- "Hills" by Frank La Forge, performed by Marian Anderson
- "Un Ballo in Maschera" by Giuseppe Verdi, performed by the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig conducted by Riccardo Chailly
- "Songs my Mother Taught Me" by Antonín Dvořák, performed by Marian Anderson
- "He Shall Feed His Flock" from "Messiah" by Georg Frideric Handel, performed by Marian Anderson
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All images and audio in this video are for educational purposes only and are not intended as copyright infringement. If you have a copyright concern, please contact me using the above information.

[@agatha9071]

She must've been so overwhelmed that day, it's remarkable for a singer to perform so well like she did. Under intense emotions, your voice naturally tenses and strangles as a result. To be able to deliver perfectly in such a context, you gotta be that good. Beautiful voice.

[@mariedowling3837]

Thomas, your vlogs are so well researched, cleverly compiled and interestingly narrated. They are always a great pleasure to watch and listen to. Your Marian Anderson history is absolutely fascinating and your insights very sensitive and enlightening. Thank you for documenting this amazing artist and her life and times in such detail and in such an engaging manner.

[@qwaqwa1960]

Interesting...! I have a Bach LP by her-must listen to it someday...

[@swymaj02]

wonderful doc Thomas. rlly. Marian rlly has a beautiful mesmerising voice.

[@jerryhatley5004]

What a life…such a voice…what a heart of honor…

[@stephenweigel]

This is such a beautifully moving tribute! Thank you for creating.

[@BrendaBoykin-qz5dj]

Thank you,Thomas.⭐🌹⭐

[@doniel-nt2kf]

appreciate your videos, would you please make one about your point of view on how to appreciate classical music? thanks

[@ASmyk-mo3ob]

I would love to see a material about your collection of books! :)

[@ClassicalNerd]

I did a livestream for my 50K subscriber special where I went through my collection for hours.

[@aaa_aa7607]

Amazing work

[@robertwaddell8427]

Bravo! Well done.

[@sarahaprincesa]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@davidkent2804]

Thank you for the respect and reverence you showed for this worthy cultural icon. It's still as painful to recount U.S. history of that era as it was to grow up in it as a child, watching the extraordinary effort and sacrifice Americans citizens had to expend in order to gain basic civil rights. Our nation should have known better, claiming the international moral high ground throughout based on our superior founding doctrines. It should not have taken a once-in-a-century talent to make the case for everyday human respect, but we can celebrate the appearance of Marion Anderson in history on many levels.

[@Lizard-Bro2024]

Have you done a video on Joaquín Rodrigo? If not, then when will you do it?

[@jessicaeskebk5945]

19:13 okay since you put in he Breaking Bad intro here I need to point how you and Gale Boetticher have extremely similar voices

[@MichaelSheffield-ox8yd]

Opera singers are "greedy songbirds" (according to the movie version of Salieri). By the evidence presented here, THANK GOD for that.

[@Tolstoy111]

He was talking about that one character. Salieri was devoted to opera.

[@swymaj02]

not even a week since Stephen Foster.

[@smashissocool65]

If you had to choose an opera composer who is ripe for revival who would it be?

[@ClassicalNerd]

I don't know the opera world well enough to say for sure.

[@swymaj02]

Henry Purcell was a step in the right direction for me. I was an extra in Blackheath Halls' 2018 Production of Dido and Aeneas, along with others from my secondary school. The building itself was in refurbishment, though, so it was performed at Deptford's The Albany. It was a brilliant time for us; not only did we get rave receptions for my memory (I was 16), but the breaks jn between was something. After all, it was the World Cup, and soem of us watched the semi between England and Croatia, WHILE IN THE WINGS!!! Anyway, everyone knows the 1st scene where Troy is bombed. I was one of the casualties, but managed to pull it off (and graze my knee in the process) in dramatic style. I remember one of the actors after the show ended, telling me that I could make it as an actor, musician, and historian. I am currently a sophomore Film student at University, who also composes and produces music for pleasure (though I've picked up a few projects to compose for). and I think about that time every now and then, in awe that this (in a way) led me to this exact moment, Writing this. And yes, I'm in London, in case anyone is confused with these locations.

[@Uniule]

Mussorgsky and Rimsky-Korsakov.

[@JasonNaas]

Giuseppe Spaghetti

[@ClassicalNerd]

🤌🤌

[@Brandon55638]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣