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Teacher's Guide Look What a Wonder a Gospel Musical by Walter Teacher’s Guide Look What a Wonder A gospel musical by Walter Robinson FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR In a Facing History and Ourselves classroom, students discover, in the words of German historian Detlev J.K. Peukert, that "the shadowy figures that look out at us from the tarnished mirror of history are – in the final analysis -- ourselves." The arts play a central role in helping students make that connection, for it is through the arts that they begin to see themselves in others. It is also through the arts that they develop empathy, the ability to see the world through someone else's eyes. President John F. Kennedy once told Americans that arts raise our spirits, deepen our insights, and enhance our self-comprehension. As Facing History students view the past through music, art, drama, and literature, many find their own voice and begin to tell their own stories: stories linked to their identity, their sense of who they are, and the dreams of what they might become. Look What a Wonder , Walter Robinson's gospel musical, reveals the way the arts can raise universal questions through an exploration of a particular history. It is a story that explores many of the themes central to a Facing History course: identity and voice, courage and resilience, freedom and justice, and decision-making and choice. We are grateful to Seth and Beth Klarman for sponsoring this event and giving this performance as a gift to our community. Margot Stern Strom Executive Director 1 Teacher’s Guide Look What a Wonder A gospel musical by Walter Robinson FROM THE COMPOSER I am thrilled that you will have the opportunity to hear Look What a Wonder . I would like to share with you a part of my life's journey in writing and composing this musical. From the age of three, I was brought up in a black Baptist church in a small town outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I can remember sitting next to my grandfather in church every Sunday. I would hear the rich vocal sounds of African-American worshipers who had family roots in Virginia and North Carolina. After singing the chorus of a particular song, the church members would often just hum the melody. These melodies and rhythms were a natural part of my environment as a child. Over the most impressionable years of my life, this music became a part of my deepest, innermost self. Music and dancing were a central part of my experience as a teenager and college student. The lyrics of pop dance music were different from those of church music, but I could see that pop dance music had its roots in the music of the black church. As a music and psychology major at Temple University, I made extra money by playing the double bass and spent a great deal of time playing jazz. Here again, I noticed similarities between the music of the black church and jazz. After college, I started playing pop music professionally and realized the power of music to facilitate social change. All of my musical experiences came together when I decided to create a musical based upon the life of Denmark Vesey. I chose Denmark Vesey because his life involved certain issues which people rarely discussed openly: (1) the role of religion during the time of slavery; (2) the idea that blacks did bear arms and fight for freedom; (3) the complex role of skin color as a result of racial mixing during slavery; and (4) the difficulty slaves faced in maintaining a family and culture under slavery. I became convinced Americans needed to hear about slavery from the slave's point of view . When I asked myself what was the best way to tell the story of Denmark Vesey and slavery, I immediately heard those same sounds that flooded my mind when I was five years old sitting in church with my grandfather. This African-American music was first created during the time period of slavery. I knew that basing my original music on traditional spirituals, gospel, and blues would be an effective way to communicate the important story of Denmark Vesey and slavery. The African-American musical legacy was one of the most positive outcomes of the very tragic period of American slavery. The music gives voice in the most authentic way to individuals who, for the most part, did not keep diaries or written records of their thoughts and feelings. Yet, within the musical legacy is a communication of feeling that could never be expressed in mere words or historical documents alone. When we sing the music, it becomes living history. Walter Robinson Composer 2 Teacher’s Guide Look What a Wonder A gospel musical by Walter Robinson HISTORICAL CHRONOLOGY OF DENMARK VESEY'S LIFE AND REVOLT 1767 Denmark Vesey is born. 1781 Vesey is sold into slavery to Captain Joseph Vesey on Santo Domingo Island in the Caribbean. Vesey becomes Joseph Vesey's personal slave and works on slave-trading vessels. 1783 Vesey moves with Joseph Vesey to Charleston, South Carolina, and begins hiring himself out as a carpenter. 1791 Black slaves on Santo Domingo, now called Haiti, stage a successful revolt and overthrow the colonial French government. News of this revolt inspires Vesey to think about similar measures for blacks to gain freedom in Charleston. Dec. 1799 Vesey wins $1,500 in the Bay Street Lottery. 1800 Vesey purchases his freedom from Joseph Vesey for $600. 1800-1822 Vesey practices carpentry and buys a home near Charleston. He joins a growing community of approximately 1,000 free blacks. 1817 Vesey becomes a member of the Hampstead Methodist Church, the first independent black church in South Carolina, led by Reverend Morris Brown. Dec. 1821 Vesey plans for a slave revolt for the night of July 14, under a new moon and while many Charleston whites are vacationing in the North. He begins recruiting an army of slaves and free blacks that will total between 5,000 and 9,000 insurrectionists. During planning meetings, Vesey quotes the Bible and speeches from U.S. Senator Rufus King, who opposes slavery. May 31, 1822 Slave Peter Prioleau reports information about the slave revolt plans to his slaveholding family. The Charleston police arrest several of Vesey's men including his chief recruiter, Peter Poyas. The Charleston city council interrogates them. June 8, 1822 Vesey changes the date of the revolt from July 14 to June 16. June 16, 1822 Vesey cancels the slave revolt because Charleston officials have begun close watch of his and others' movements around the city; a surprise attack is impossible. June 20, 1822 City officials launch a search for Vesey. June 23, 1822 Denmark Vesey is captured and brought to trial. June 28, 1822 City officials find Vesey guilty of treason for his attempt to raise an insurrection. July 2, 1822 Vesey is hanged on Blake's Lands, near Charleston. The special trial court session sits for five and a half weeks, considering charges against 117 blacks. 38 of these are released for lack of evidence and 79 are put on trial. Of the 79 tried, 59 are convicted and 34 of these are hanged. The remaining convictions result in permanent exile, usually into slavery outside of South Carolina. 3 Teacher’s Guide Look What a Wonder A gospel musical by Walter Robinson PLOT SYNOPSIS FOR LOOK WHAT A WONDER a fictionalized account of the life of Denmark Vesey Denmark Vesey was a real man who planned to overthrow slavery in the American South in 1822. The story of Look What A Wonder is based loosely upon the events in his life. However, in turning history into drama, Walter Robinson has used his imagination to fill in many gaps in our knowledge of Denmark's life. For example, although we know Denmark had an enslaved wife, we do not know if they had any children. Robinson has also altered certain elements in his story in order to make it more compelling. As you read through this plot synopsis, make sure to keep in mind that it is a fictionalized account of a true story. Key Characters Denmark Vesey , slave revolt leader Rose Vesey , Denmark Vesey's wife Jeremiah Vesey , Denmark Vesey's ten year-old son Chloe Vesey , Denmark Vesey's eight year-old daughter Bartholomew Moore , a mulatto slave; half-brother of Colonel Moore Colonel Moore , master of Rose and Bartholomew; head of the South Carolina militia Introduction Look What A Wonder is the story of a black family: Denmark Vesey, his wife Rose, and their two children. It takes place in Charleston, South Carolina, in the years 1821 and 1822. Denmark Vesey is a free black in a community of approximately 3,000 free blacks and 60,000 slaves. He is a carpenter by trade. When he was an adolescent, Denmark was a slave owned by a Captain Joseph Vesey. Denmark was granted the "honor" of serving as the first mate on Captain Vesey's slave ship. The captain required Denmark to do terrible things, such as whipping a rebellious slave to death. As an adult, Denmark is haunted by his own past actions. His rage against slavery drives him to try to free all black slaves in America. In doing so, he hopes to win justice for blacks and at the same time redeem himself for his past on the slave ship. When Captain Vesey later retired to Charleston, he granted Denmark his freedom. Rose and their two children are still enslaved when the musical begins. They belong to a white master named Colonel Moore.
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