"Everything
is driven by the blues. A lot of emotion and a lot of stories. I found
the root to the music and it's even deeper than the blues...It has
been a major inspiration."
ABDUL SHYLLON, ASSOCIATE ARTIST
Louis Armstrong
Harmony in Harlem 2002
"Come with me to the darkness
where I go,
Night coming tenderly
Across the Harlem rooftops."LANGSTON HUGHES: HARLEM EXTRACTS
Set in 1932, Harmony
in Harlem coincides with the end of Prohibition
and the early years of the 1930s Depression. At this moment, Harlem
had already become the first modern creative city, and jazz music
was set to redefine popular American culture forever. Harmony in Harlem was created over 12
months with the extensive collaboration of Shingai Shoniwa and
Dan Smith, and the creative contribution
of Dionne Mitchell, Abdul
Shyllon and
Jennifer Mitchell, all young Associate
Artists at Second Wave.
As part of the Arts and the Learning
City Initiative at Goldsmiths College,
during three residentials, we explored storyline, characters,
music and dance, created original music and songs, and developed
the dance story and choreography. Many other young people were
also involved in these residentials at Goldsmiths and in a series
of subsequent music, drama and dance workshops. All contributed
to the shape, style and content of this original piece of musical
theatre.
This creative process began with the idea of exploring how African
American artists shaped an era. The Harlem Renaissance of the 20s
and 30s is mainly associated with the visual arts and literature
by Black artists, novelists and poets. Harmony in Harlem celebrates
this and the work of the great blues and jazz artists of the period.
In devising this work of musical theatre, we were inspired by the
lives of these artists and their stories are at the heart of the
play. We were impressed by the depth of knowledge and dedication
they demonstrated in realising jazz as a new musical art form. We
were also struck by these artists' humour, resourcefulness and generosity
of spirit in supporting younger artists.
Young Artists in a Changing World
The innovative collaboration between two local centres of learning
– Second Wave and Goldsmiths College – was part of the
Arts and the Learning City initiative, aimed at widening participation
by building an inclusive arts and learning environment in London
to encourage the highest levels of educational attainment for London's
diverse communities. Second Wave's workshop programme Young
Artists in a Changing Worldoffered young
people the opportunity to explore the music, dance and culture of
Harlem in the 20s and 30s and the relevance of blues and jazz to
subsequent music in America and worldwide. It aimed to broaden and
deepen their understanding of this major phase of musical and cultural
breakthrough. Young people were involved as creators of their own
original material and encouraged to develop their own musical styles
whilst learning from earlier jazz and blues influences.
Download the cast & credits
list here. (Adobe Acrobat Reader required, which can be downloaded
free here)
Shingai Shoniwa as Beulah
"These artists took risks,
seizing every opportunity. They set a standard for music and
their rebellious spirit woke people up, inspiring change and
hope." SHINGAI SHONIWA, ASSOCIATE ARTIST
Ethel Waters
"Researching the story gave me a deeper
insight into the music, its background and history. R'n'B wouldn't
exist without these people...their magic and staying power...they
wanted all the world had to give them, all it had to offer." DIONNE MITCHELL, ASSOCIATE ARTIST
Second Wave Youth Arts,
1st Floor, The Mission,
1 Creek Road,
Deptford,
London SE8 3BT
020 8694 2444 Registered charity No.1023836
Second Wave also receives funding from: BBC Children in Need, Esmée Fairbairn
Foundation, City Parochial
Foundation,
Deptford Challenge Trust
(administered by the Capital Community Foundation),
Digital Fusion/Creative Lewisham
Agency, Metropolitan Police Service,
Safer Stronger Communities Fund,
Awards For All
