Symposium 2000 Newsletter
World Peace through Reverence for Life
September 30 - October 15, 2000
Thurston Moore, Editor June, 2000 Number 17
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Items in this issue:
UPDATED SYMPOSIUM 2000 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Syracuse University Press Releases Albert Schweitzer Biography
at Symposium
Albert Schweitzer Conference a Present for Doctor in Holland
Frederick Franck's Drawings of Lambaréné
"Lambarena - Bach to Africa" An Homage to Albert Schweitzer
Stars Will Shine at the Symposium
Registration Form for The International Albert Schweitzer Conference
Updated International Albert Schweitzer Conference Schedule
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“Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.”
Carl Sagan (l934-l996) |
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Syracuse University Press Releases
Albert Schweitzer Biography at Symposium
In our Newsletter #5 we told the "Brabazon Saga," how our communication
with British author James Brabazon started in January, 1999, after
we mysteriously saw mention of his name in the Delbert Mann Archives
in the Heard Library at Vanderbilt University. Brabazon had been
working on revisions of his biography of Albert Schweitzer for
sometime. He showed great interest in getting it re-published
in time for the Symposium. He saw the importance of having the
book released to co-incide with this global event.
Dr. Schweitzer's daughter, as well as other Schweitzer scholars,
have confirmed to me that this book was the finest and most complete
of all Schweitzer biographies. Here are a few quotes from the
first edition in l975:
"...by and far away the most comprehensive and, I would say, incomparatively
the best biography of Schweitzer yet." James Cameron, Guardian
"Brabazon's achievement in this comprehensive and exceptionally
fine biography is to show how Schweitzer was able to be many men
at once without contradiction or neurosis - dreamer and man of
action, traditionalist and innovator, egotist and 'saint' ...
a rich book, and a fitting tribute to a great if controversial
man." Publisher's Weekly
The 1975 edition (in my Schweitzer library I have both the American
and British editions) contains over 500 pages and the new edition
will be greatly expanded, making use of newly discovered correspondence
covering the ten-year secret relationship between Albert Schweitzer
and Helene Bresslau, the woman he was to marry. To Helene alone
he revealed every corner of his mind, and heart, spilling the
thoughts and feelings that he kept carefully hidden from everyone
else who knew him. Here are the struggles of a genius in the making
- and also an intensely passionate and quite extraordinary relationship,
in which Helene emerges as a rare woman and a worthy partner.
These "love letters" (long thought to be lost but found in an
old suitcase by Schweitzer's daughter) have been translated by
Antje Lemke, Symposium Advisory Board member and Schweitzer scholar,
and will be published in a complete book by Syracuse University
Press. Brabazon said, "I have had the privilege of reading these
letters and can assure you that they make fascinating reading."
Also new to the general public Brabazon's new edition will give
the amazing account of the deep suspicion of the U.S. State Department
towards Schweitzer, due to his strong opposition to the hydrogen
bomb tests and his refusal to be silenced about the genetic hazards
of nuclear explosions.
Lawrence Wittner, State University of New York, and Symposium
Advisory Board Member, wrote an article, "Blacklisting Schweitzer,"
in the May-June,1995, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists where
he told for the first time, thanks to the then-recent declassification
of key government documents, the dimensions of a bitter conflict
between Dr. Schweitzer and the U.S. Government. As Professor Wittner
wrote, "To millions, Albert Schweitzer was a saint. But to the
Eisenhower crew, he was a dangerous nuisance."
Mr. Brabazon is an experienced screen-writer and has written a
feature film screen-play around this episode of Schweitzer's life
story and the truth about his hospital. Lachlan Forrow, President
of the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship, and Symposium 2000 Advisory
Board Member, is helping to find ways to finance the film.
Orders for "Signed" Copies by the Author Accepted Now
Mr. Brabazon has agreed to sign copies of his new edition of Albert
Schweitzer for mail orders through Tennessee Players. He will
also be signing books during the Albert Schweitzer Conference
on October l4 and 15. He will be the "keynote speaker" at the
luncheon on the 14th.
He will also be a guest speaker and sign books on Friday, October
13th at the 12th Annual Southern Festival of Books, presented
by the Tennessee Humanities Council and its Center for the Book,
in Nashville's War Memorial Plaza.
For mail orders, signed by the author, to your name personally,
mail your orders to Tennessee Players, Inc. 304 West Due West
Avenue, Madison, TN 37115-4511. Be sure to print your name.
For charge orders call (6l5) 868-3738.
Two editions are available:
Limited Cloth with Dust Jacket - Special Edition $45.00 - Paperback
$24.95
Shipping/handling rates:
Cloth Paperback
United States $ 5.25 $ 5.25
Priority
Europe 23.00 21.00
Asia/Africa 29.00 25.50
Canada 9.50 8.50
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Frederick Franck's
Drawings of Lambaréné
Fine Arts Gallery At Vanderbilt
September 11-October 19
This fascinating exhibit is sponsored by The Albert Schweitzer
Institute for the Humanities and consists of thirty-two framed
ink drawings that depict events that took place at Dr. Schweitzer's
Hospital in Africa. Dr. Franck once wrote, "Art is one's digging
tool in search of meaning, in search of one's own truth." Franck
began his search for truth and meaning in 1958 while working as
a dentist at Schweitzer's hospital. His sketches illuminate the
events, with simplicity and dignity, that took place at the hospital
during the three years he worked there.
Rhena Schweitzer Miller wrote, "He depicted my father's principles
of Reverence for Life through the eyes of love and depicted it
with the talent of the great artist he is."
Frederick Franck's drawings and paintings are part of the permanent
collections of major museums throughout the world. He is also
a renown author of almost 30 published books dealing with Africa,
Schweitzer, his own religious experience, and his concept of drawing.
Lambarena - Bach to Africa
An Homage to Albert Schweitzer
The Village Cultural Arts Center, in association with Tennessee
Players, will present a very exciting dance program on October
8. This extraordinary music - available on SONY CD - brings together
the melodies of Bach with the African melodies and rhythms of
Gabonese ensembles of mixed voices plus soloists and virtuoso
instrumentalists. Recorded in Paris, the session took nearly 100
days.
The Gabonese singers and chanters perform rituals that celebrate
passage on the human timelines. Lambarena is an appropriate memorial
to a man whose desire for the sacred caused him to love and heal
his fellow man. Don't miss this program - you will come away exhilarated
and dancing on air!
Stars Will Shine at the Symposium
For l6 days the world spotlight will be shining on Vanderbilt
University and Nashville, Tennessee. Renown speakers will be presented
by the Vanderbilt Schools; there will be concerts by the Voices
of Bahá and the Hiroshima Boys' Choir, the Nashville Chamber Orchestra,
and the Nashville Symphony. There will be a celebrated art exhibit
and actors and dances will be presented. As Alan Valentine, Executive
Director of the Nashville Symphony said, "This will be an incredible
two weeks in Nashville."
The "International Albert Schweitzer Conference" will be a landmark event and will feature speakers and visitors
from around the world. Actor Hugh O'Brian and Canadian Organists
Peter Letkemann and Christopher Dawes will be featured in the
Multimedia Musical Dramatization, "Words of Albert Schweitzer
and the Music of Bach." Mr. O'Brian appeared in the l995 premiere
of this work and again in Denver, in 1998.
A very special concert in honor of her grandfather, will be presented
on Sunday afternoon, October 14, by concert pianist Christiane
Engel, Albert Schweitzer's granddaughter. She will be joined by
Professor Jiri Tomasek of the Czech Republic, the Vice Dean and
Professor of Violin Playing at the Academy of Performing Arts
in Prague. He is also a renown conductor and conducted the orchestra
on three recent CD's of Mozart Piano Concertos which featured
Ms. Engel as soloist.
Christiane Engel grew up in Switzerland, has a Ph. D. in Medicine
and has worked as a doctor. Like her grandfather, music is her
passion and she has concertized in several countries, including
the United States.
Albert Schweitzer Conference a Present for Doctor in Holland
Joost van Melle of Holland wrote about his father retiring from
medical practice this past January. At a party given for his parents
they were presented, on behalf of the family, as a retirement
present a trip to America to attend the Schweitzer Conference.
Mr. van Melle said that his parents were extremely surprised and
delighted. This is a letter his father wrote:
The music of Bach and the life work of Dr. Albert Schweitzer have
been two of the most important inspirations in our lives. As students
in 1963, we met each other in the choir singing the St. Matthew
Passion and since that time the music of Bach has accompanied
our lives.
A student friend, Dr. Ary van Wijnen, went to Lambaréné for a
medical course in 1964, the year before Schweitzer died. Dr. van
Wijnen kindled us with enthusiasm for the philosophy and medical
work of Dr. Schweitzer and the "grand docteur" became for us a
great example.
I am a general practitioner and my wife has assisted me in practice
for more than 30 years. In 1982, when Dr. van Wijnen was Medical
Director of the Schweitzer Hospital, we spent a month in Lambaréné
and were witnesses quite near of the continued work of Dr. Schweitzer,
For many years we had corresponded with Mrs. Maria Lagendijk,
a nurse who assisted Dr. Schweitzer for more than 25 years. When
she was in Holland we visited her several times. We are convinced
that the philosophy of Dr. Schweitzer with his adagium "respect
pour la vie" is the only therapy for this sick and violent world.
Commemorative Program Book
The Symposium 2000 Commemorative Program Book will be a beautiful
publication that will be kept and referred to often. For information
about prestige advertising visit our web site: http://spaceformusic.com/symposium2000/main.html
and click on "special offer" button.
For a sample cover and complete details write or e-mail us: mailto:symposium2000@webtv.net |
| TO VIEW AND PRINT REGISTRATION FORM for The International Albert
Schweitzer Conference CLICK HERE |
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SYMPOSIUM 2000 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
For the complete up-to-date schedule of events, visit
http://spaceformusic.com/symposium2000/eventschedule.html
Here is information added since the May Newsletter.
Frederick Franck: Drawings of Lambaréné
"Albert Schweitzer's Hospital in Action"
September 11 - October 19 ..... The Fine Arts Gallery at Vanderbilt
Saturday, Sept 30
Frederick Franck: Drawings of Lambaréné Reception:
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm ..... The Fine Arts Gallery at Vanderbilt
Sunday, Oct 8
Lambarena - Bach to Africa: An Homage To Albert Schweitzer
Presented by The Village Cultural Arts Center, Inc.
Traditional harmonies of Bach linked to the native melodies and
dances of Schweitzer's adopted homeland Gabon, Africa.
The Factory ..... Franklin, Tennessee
Saturday, Oct 14
Schweitzer Conference Continues
Speakers include Rhena Schweitzer Miller (Dr. Schweitzer's daughter); Naomi Tutu (Bishop Tutu's daughter), Fisk University; Dr. Lachlan Forrow, President of the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship, and Sonja Poteau, Director Schweitzer House, Gunsbach, France. James Brabazon
will be keynote speaker at luncheon. Moderator for Panel Discussion
will be Antje Bultmann Lemke, Schweitzer Scholar.
9:30 am - 5:30 pm ..... West End United Methodist Church .....
Nashville, TN
Words of Albert Schweitzer and the Music of Bach, Acclaimed Multimedia Musical Dramatization by
Thurston Moore, Featuring actor Hugh O’Brian and renown Canadian Organists, Peter Letkemann and Christopher Dawes
7:30 pm ..... West End United Methodist Church - Reception Follows
Sunday, Oct 15
Schweitzer Conference: Albert Schweitzer's Philosophy of "Reverence
for Life"
Albert Schweitzer's original 1919 sermon, "Reverence for Life,"
will be delivered. Concert will feature Christiane Engel and Jiri Tomasek, concert violinist. (See article" "Stars Will Shine.") Panel
Discussion, etc.
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm ..... West End United Methodist Church
Symphony No. 1 "Paths of Peace", by Michael Alec Rose
Dedicated to the Life and Work of Albert Schweitzer, World Premiere,
Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Dr. Jordan Tang, Guest Conductor
7:00 pm ..... Tennessee Performing Arts Center Complex ..... Nashville,
TN - Transportation Provided
Loews Vanderbilt Plaza - Official Hotel for Symposium 2000
Double Occupancy $129.00 - Single $119.00
2100 West End Avenue - Nashville, TN 37203 - (615)320-1700
In U.S. (800) 336-3335 • Specify "Symposium 2000 Reservation" |
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Among Our Sponsors
Major events at Symposium 2000 are being co-sponsored by
these Vanderbilt University Schools:
• Blair School of Music
Mark Wait, Dean
• The College of Arts & Science
E. F. Infante, Professor and Dean
• The Divinity School
E. Jackson Forstman, Acting Dean
• Peabody College
Camilla P. Benbow, Dean
• School of Engineering
Kenneth F. Galloway, Dean
• School of Medicine
John E. Chapman, M.D., Dean
• School of Nursing
Colleen Conway-Welch, Professor and Dean
Symposium 2000 Website sponsored by spaceformusic.com |
Tennessee Players, Inc. 304 West Due West Avenue
Madison TN 37115-4511
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