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What I Had Was Singing: The Story of Marian Anderson
Traces the life of the popular concert singer, who was the first Black singer to perform with the Metropolitan Opera, and describes how her example helped the Civil Rights movement
- GenresBiography
96 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1903
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 13, 2019
Previewed for 9-year-old granddaughter. I thought it was an excellent book, pretty well-balanced, while not avoiding the sorrows, inhumanities, and indignities of racial discrimination.
It's uplifting and respectful of Ms. Anderson's extreme talent and gift, while not beating one over the head with well-justified anger. She and her Mother's attitude reflect the clear influence of Dr. Martin Luther King.
The very well=chosen black and white photos help to bring more life and appreciation of Ms. Anderson's unique singing career. She had an unforgettable voice and stage presence.
It's uplifting and respectful of Ms. Anderson's extreme talent and gift, while not beating one over the head with well-justified anger. She and her Mother's attitude reflect the clear influence of Dr. Martin Luther King.
The very well=chosen black and white photos help to bring more life and appreciation of Ms. Anderson's unique singing career. She had an unforgettable voice and stage presence.
October 2, 2009
Question 14 ( the whole book)
The author wrote this story because he wants to bring back to the mind Marian Anderson is a person who made history when she became the first black singer. She gave us the gift of dignity, the opportunity to correct wrongs, and the moral courage to break down the walls that separate whites and blacks in the US.
He got those ideas from the whole life of Marian Anderson when she was a little girl to she was a famous singer, and also when she died.
I think the author wants us to know that we must treasure about the life which we have had. Moreover, we shouldn't give up any chance that we have and try to get over the hardship.
Quesion 15
Marian was born on February 27,1897,in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Before she was seven, Marian began singing in the Union Baptist chiden's choir. As soon as Alexander Robinson, the choir director, heard her sing, he knew she had a most unusual voice.Soon the people in Marian's church wanted others to hear her beautiful voice. One day, Marian picked up a paper lying in the street and she saw her own picture on it.
In that year, Marian's dad bought a piano for the girls. After a lot of practice to get her fingers on the right notes at the right time, Marian finally learned to play so well that she could accompany herself while she sang.
When Marian was about twelve, her dad died after a bad accident at work, so Marian didn't have time to be lonely.But after one year, Marian was invited to join the adult choir at church, and she continued to sing with the children in the junior choir.She traveled with them when the choir performed for other churches and in other city.So Marian really loved Sundays. It meant singing and church and friends at church and friends over for dinner.
As soon as she finished high school, she could go straight to work and help her mom support the family. Before long, Marian had many opportunities to sing in public, but the wonderful opportuity for Marian had passed because her grandma was not impressed.
After she met with Mr. Boghetti who was a demainding and expensive voiice teacher, Marian work toward her goal of becoming a great classical singer.
When Marian was twenty-six, she became the first black person to win the Philadelphia Philharmonic Society's singing contest. The hall was rented, the tickets was on sale, and finally the day of Marian's New York City concert arrived. When she came to the songs by Brahms, Marian sang the German she had so carefully practiced, but she knew something was not right.
As time passed,Marian practiced quietly. In just one year, she sang with ease in Italian, German, French and English. Also, she sand over one hundred concerts. And the next few years, she performed in most of Europe's capital cities.
In 1939, the Washington chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution who owned Constitution Hall refused to allow a black artist to appear at the hall. It seemed impossible to Marian because she was black, people in her own country would prevent her from singing in the fine hall in her own nation's capital.But after she performed at the Easter Sunday concert, some in the audience wept as she sang of freedom. Sometime she felt successful because she believed that if white people could see that they were wrong about her , they might see that they were wrong about black people in general.
Finally, Marian married with King, her high school sweet heart. King, an architect, designed and helped build their house, so they had everything they wanted.Then one day, she and her husband were invited to a performance in New York. Marian had always been rather proud of the fact that she was not nervous before a performance.
The author wrote this story because he wants to bring back to the mind Marian Anderson is a person who made history when she became the first black singer. She gave us the gift of dignity, the opportunity to correct wrongs, and the moral courage to break down the walls that separate whites and blacks in the US.
He got those ideas from the whole life of Marian Anderson when she was a little girl to she was a famous singer, and also when she died.
I think the author wants us to know that we must treasure about the life which we have had. Moreover, we shouldn't give up any chance that we have and try to get over the hardship.
Quesion 15
Marian was born on February 27,1897,in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Before she was seven, Marian began singing in the Union Baptist chiden's choir. As soon as Alexander Robinson, the choir director, heard her sing, he knew she had a most unusual voice.Soon the people in Marian's church wanted others to hear her beautiful voice. One day, Marian picked up a paper lying in the street and she saw her own picture on it.
In that year, Marian's dad bought a piano for the girls. After a lot of practice to get her fingers on the right notes at the right time, Marian finally learned to play so well that she could accompany herself while she sang.
When Marian was about twelve, her dad died after a bad accident at work, so Marian didn't have time to be lonely.But after one year, Marian was invited to join the adult choir at church, and she continued to sing with the children in the junior choir.She traveled with them when the choir performed for other churches and in other city.So Marian really loved Sundays. It meant singing and church and friends at church and friends over for dinner.
As soon as she finished high school, she could go straight to work and help her mom support the family. Before long, Marian had many opportunities to sing in public, but the wonderful opportuity for Marian had passed because her grandma was not impressed.
After she met with Mr. Boghetti who was a demainding and expensive voiice teacher, Marian work toward her goal of becoming a great classical singer.
When Marian was twenty-six, she became the first black person to win the Philadelphia Philharmonic Society's singing contest. The hall was rented, the tickets was on sale, and finally the day of Marian's New York City concert arrived. When she came to the songs by Brahms, Marian sang the German she had so carefully practiced, but she knew something was not right.
As time passed,Marian practiced quietly. In just one year, she sang with ease in Italian, German, French and English. Also, she sand over one hundred concerts. And the next few years, she performed in most of Europe's capital cities.
In 1939, the Washington chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution who owned Constitution Hall refused to allow a black artist to appear at the hall. It seemed impossible to Marian because she was black, people in her own country would prevent her from singing in the fine hall in her own nation's capital.But after she performed at the Easter Sunday concert, some in the audience wept as she sang of freedom. Sometime she felt successful because she believed that if white people could see that they were wrong about her , they might see that they were wrong about black people in general.
Finally, Marian married with King, her high school sweet heart. King, an architect, designed and helped build their house, so they had everything they wanted.Then one day, she and her husband were invited to a performance in New York. Marian had always been rather proud of the fact that she was not nervous before a performance.
November 10, 2012
Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com
Marian Anderson is an inspiration to all, black and white alike. Born in 1897 Philadelphia, from an early age all Marian wanted to do was sing. By the age of thirteen, Marian was singing in the adult choir at the Union Baptist Church. The Church readily knew her talent and advertised her participation in various concerts.
As Marian grew, she knew that singing was what she wanted to do for the rest of her life. Marian studied with various music coaches, each time branching out to improve her abilities. When she decided she wanted to continue with her musical education, she was surprised to find that her skin color prevented her from attending a music school in the city. But she remained determined.
When she was twenty-seven, Marian decided to invest her money and attempt a concert in New York City's Town Hall. The show was minimally attended and her attempts at singing in German brought her less-than-desirable reviews. After a brief period of not singing, Marian had to give in and continue with her lifelong dream.
With travels to Europe and efforts to increase her language skills, Marian proved to the world, and more importantly the American people, that skin color made no difference. Ultimately, it was her singing that proved to America that she was just as good as any white person, and possibly better. Quoting Arturo Toscanini: "Yours is a voice such as one hears once in a hundred years."
Ms. Ferris writes a wonderful portrait of a very inspiring lady. Marian struggled to achieve everything she dreamed of. But perseverance paid off, and Marian Anderson led the way for many talented African American female singers in the years that followed.
Marian Anderson is an inspiration to all, black and white alike. Born in 1897 Philadelphia, from an early age all Marian wanted to do was sing. By the age of thirteen, Marian was singing in the adult choir at the Union Baptist Church. The Church readily knew her talent and advertised her participation in various concerts.
As Marian grew, she knew that singing was what she wanted to do for the rest of her life. Marian studied with various music coaches, each time branching out to improve her abilities. When she decided she wanted to continue with her musical education, she was surprised to find that her skin color prevented her from attending a music school in the city. But she remained determined.
When she was twenty-seven, Marian decided to invest her money and attempt a concert in New York City's Town Hall. The show was minimally attended and her attempts at singing in German brought her less-than-desirable reviews. After a brief period of not singing, Marian had to give in and continue with her lifelong dream.
With travels to Europe and efforts to increase her language skills, Marian proved to the world, and more importantly the American people, that skin color made no difference. Ultimately, it was her singing that proved to America that she was just as good as any white person, and possibly better. Quoting Arturo Toscanini: "Yours is a voice such as one hears once in a hundred years."
Ms. Ferris writes a wonderful portrait of a very inspiring lady. Marian struggled to achieve everything she dreamed of. But perseverance paid off, and Marian Anderson led the way for many talented African American female singers in the years that followed.
October 30, 2015
A simply written biography that tells the story of Marion Anderson, a black singer who spent her life trying to showcase her singing talent. Although she had a strong belief in herself, she never took anything for granted.
The story covers her life from her early music lessons in Philadelphia to her triumphs in Europe and her ground breaking performance in Lincoln Center in 1939.
As a black artist she faced tremendous odds but she overcame many of them, always with grace and dignity.
Anderson helped pioneer the struggle for civil rights, breaking down racial barriers for black artists everywhere.
This is the inspiring story of one woman's struggle and perseverance against incredible odds, a struggle culminating in her ultimate achievement, becoming the first African/American to sing solo at the Met in the 1950s.
The story covers her life from her early music lessons in Philadelphia to her triumphs in Europe and her ground breaking performance in Lincoln Center in 1939.
As a black artist she faced tremendous odds but she overcame many of them, always with grace and dignity.
Anderson helped pioneer the struggle for civil rights, breaking down racial barriers for black artists everywhere.
This is the inspiring story of one woman's struggle and perseverance against incredible odds, a struggle culminating in her ultimate achievement, becoming the first African/American to sing solo at the Met in the 1950s.
June 17, 2009
THIS BOOK IS fire
I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN
I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews