I had the opportunity or, better put, took the opportunity to see a Sunday afternoon performance at the Heritage Center on the campus of the University of Dubuque titled First Person: Seeing America by the group Ensemble Galilei .
Ensemble Galilei has been broadly recognized for their unique blend of Irish, Scottish and early and original music. In this performance, First Person: Seeing America, the group takes the audience on an astoundingly beautiful journey through America utilizing the spoken word, music, and projected iconic images from The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photographs from the Civil War, the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, early Native American Culture, the culture of American Slavery, and representations of the Immigrant experience of the late 19th and early 20th century make this a very, very moving experience.
All of us in attendance walked away from this performance with a profound appreciation for who we are, as Americans. Of course, as a country, our history is at times virtuous and at other times deplorable. Yet, in these images, we see the “all of us” that is America today. Struggle, perseverance, hardship, some compassion and some cruelty are part of that unique American experience but, supporting it all, is a kind of unique human dignity that very subtly puts our current generation to shame while, at the same time, we are invited to consider our better angels.
This performance will enrich your life and deepen your appreciation for all of those who have come before us.
