The Days-Massolo Center cultural choir hosted an inaugural event in celebration of the Hamilton community on Saturday, Nov. 11. The event, titled “Swing Low: A Celebration of the Hamilton Community in Song,” aimed for its audience to experience how one song can travel through time and communities, bringing social, ethnic, and spiritual depth and intellect to The Hill. “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” is that song, the one that allows every individual, no matter where they come from, to share a community here at Hamilton and celebrate the value of our journeys. The choir featured members of the Student Diversity Council, Sustah Girls, Brothers Organization, and the Hamilton community in general. The event itself also included performances from the College Hill Singers and the Hamilton College Saxophone Ensemble.
In light of the recent loss of Sam Pellman, a beloved and distinguished professor of music in the Hamilton family, this celebration was dedicated to his appreciation for community and love of music which brought everyone together to celebrate that night. Phyllis Breland, director of the Days-Massolo Center Cultural Community Choir, paid a special tribute to Pellman during the event, affirming that he was there in spirit and that his hard work in making this event possible would not go unnoticed.
“Swing Low” featured a diverse array of musical performances that captivated the audience with unique takes on the timeless classic. Opening up the show was Jace Saplan, Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities and Vocal Studies, conducting the College Hill Singers with an arrangement inspired by the original recording of “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” by the Fisk Jubilee Singers of Fisk University, a group known as pioneers of the African-American a cappella ensemble. Saplan stated that this piece speaks to the unifying power of music and community, and indeed it did, as the College Hill Singers honored the musical sound of the original creators with their rendition of the song.
Professor Michael “Doc” Woods delivered an audio-visual piece that spoke to the historical and cultural significance of “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” by depicting two powerful images that illustrated the harsh realities of slavery yet highlighted the song as a source of hope for those seeking a light at the end of the tunnel through those dark times.
Monk Rowe, director of the Jazz archive, led the Saxophone ensemble in another special rendition of “Swing Low” that featured Sean Henry-Smith ’15 as the vocalist for the selection. The dynamic piece transitioned from a rich, piano-backed ballad into an upbeat, flavorful medley intertwined with lyrics inspired by Bob Marley’s “One Love.” Smith’s smooth vocals meshed beautifully with the brilliant sounds of the saxophone and the playful rhythm of the bongo drums.
The evening ended with a vivid rendition of “Swing Down Chariot,” a fun update to the original song, sung by the Cultural Choir and joined by the College Hill Singers, the saxophone ensemble, and members of the Hamilton community. Breland began the song with a strong, lively solo followed by the members of the Cultural Choir joining her onstage, singing and clapping along to the all-inclusive final performance. Marquis Palmer ’18 delivered a spoken word poem in the middle of the song about the importance of belonging to community. The audience was even invited to sing along to the words found on the backs of their programs, which exemplified the significance this event had for the Hamilton community it was celebrating through song.
“Swing Low,” an event which had been years in the making, proved to be a grand success that engaged the Hamilton community in celebration through an enduring song packed with ageless meaning for the individual and collective journey of life. Dedicated to the memory of Sam Pellman, this event proved that, whether physically present or in spirit, the members of the Hamilton family are never forgotten and hope always prevails no matter the circumstances as long as we stick together as one.
