PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Museum of the American Revolution is celebrating its latest exhibit about a founding family with a special musical performance.
More than 20 members of the Jeremy Winston Chorale will perform live at the Old City museum, featuring works inspired by the new “Black Founders” exhibit, which follows the history of the Forten family in Philadelphia.
“You’re going to see this come to life with the Jeremy Winston Chorale, which will help make the connection between the work of Francis ‘Frank’ Johnson, James Forten, as well as his daughter, Sarah L. Forten,” said Michael Idriss, the museum’s African American interpretive fellow.
The performance highlights the life of free Black Philadelphian James Forten and explores music written by African American composers from the American abolitionist movement through the early 20th century, including songs by Johnson, a renowned Philly composer.
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Johnson was a friend and neighbor of the Fortens. His work was published as sheet music in 1818 — the first Black composer to do so.
As part of the concert, the Jeremy Winston Chorale will set music to poetry written by Sarah L. Forten, an 18th-century poem called “The Grave of a Slave.”
“You’ll get to hear an incredible singer bring those words to life,” said Idriss. “It just makes you sit back and think of the importance of these words.”
Winston also composed an exhibit-inspired choral work, titled “Man of Colour.”
“The music of Francis Johnson will bring to life the words of James Forten, [who] wrote a series of letters called ‘Letters from a Man of Colour’ that he wrote back in 1813,” said Idriss.
The concert takes place at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, May 12. The event is included with museum admission. It will also be livestreamed via Zoom for ticketed patrons.
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