Author: Imported Author 2289001

NATCHEZ, Miss. — A colorful eight-page booklet that outlines the history of 27 African American sites in Natchez is now available as a handy resource for discovering local history.

The publication is titled, “African American History Trail in Natchez: A Self-Guided Tour.” It features images that include historic photographs, portraits of notable African Americans, monuments, as well as historic buildings.

Snippets of history and QR codes are listed for each site. A quick scan of the QR codes will lead readers to additional information posted on the website hosted by Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture. “Even more, the QR code allows visitors and residents to take a self-guided tour,” said Museum Director Bobby Dennis.

The City of Natchez unveiled markers for the 27 African American historical sites during a special ceremony on February 1 to mark the start of Black History Month. The project was a joint venture between the city and the museum.

Mayor Dan Gibson said the markers will play a significant role in telling the complete history of the city. “Following through with the commitment I made when I began my term as Mayor of Natchez, ‘to tell the whole story’, it brings me great joy to finally be able to recognize with signage these important historic sites,” Gibson said.

Bobby Dennis, left, executive director of Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture, and Mayor Dan M. Gibson, display the newly published booklet, “African American History Trail in Natchez: A Self-Guided Tour.”

This publication was sponsored by the City of Natchez, Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture, Visit Natchez, and Historic Natchez Foundation.

Copies are available at the following locations:

Natchez City Hall

Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture

Visit Natchez

Historic Natchez Foundation

Natchez Visitor Center

Dear Festival Fans,

Do you know who composed “Die Fledermaus,” the comic opera which opens the Festival of Music’s 2023 season on April 29? Johann Strauss, the Viennese waltz king! Strauss, born 1825 and died 1899, wrote almost 400 waltzes, as well as 16 operettas and one ballet. He loved dance music and he included Hungarian and Scotch dance music, polkas, Spanish style waltzes and ballet rhythms in “Die Fledermaus.”

The story of Die Fledermaus (the Bat) is a practical joke, meant to be the Bat’s revenge for an unpleasant joke played on him. Hilarity will reign as high jinx unfold, mistaken identities are revealed and inappropriate flirtations are regretted. A fun story and beautiful music, which includes one of Strauss’ waltzes, makes this an event not to be missed.

Of course, none of the events of the Festival’s 33rd year should be missed! Please check out natchezfestivalofmusic.com for information and tickets. The new listening series at Smoot’s is selling fast. Also, a very special event is the closing concert May 20—Bill Summers and the New Orleans All Stars, musicians who have performed around the world and the Festival is fortunate to be able to bring them to Natchez! And also check out another world class musician, Konstantin Soukhovetski, pianist, who will wow listeners with his classical virtuosity May 18. But first, as a Festival preseason special, on April 20, two world-class musicians, both University of Southern Mississippi professors, will present a professional recital of double bass and piano music. The concert will be held at the Natchez First Presbyterian Church at 7 p.m. Admission is free.

The double bass, also called a contrabass or bass viol, is the largest instrument in the violin family. As a classical instrument, is rarely heard outside of orchestral concerts or as a solo instrument so this is a very special treat for music lovers!

Dr. Marcos Machado is a highly acclaimed Brazilian double bassist celebrated for his virtuosic performances and inspiring stage presence. In addition to being a professor of music at USM, Dr. Machado is the founder of the Pampa International Music Festival in Brazil and also of Bass by the Sea, a national double bass competition. His career includes tours throughout the United States, Europe and South America and three Grammy nominations.

Dr. Machado’s versatility has inspired many composers to write works for the double bass dedicated to him. He has given world premier performances of several works, including American composer P. Kellach Waddle’s “The Dark and the Silent” for solo bass and Brazilian composer B. Cunha’s “Momento Nordestino no.2”. He also gave the world premier of American composer Frank Porto’s Partita for Solo Double Bass.

Dr. Machado performs on a David Tecchler double bass, c. 1700, and a modern custom-built double bass by the late Italian-Brazilian luthier Andrea Spada. His signature bow, “Tao,” was crafted by the world-renowned luthier Alessandro Alberi.

Accompanying Dr. Machado will be Dr. Ellen Price Elder, an associate professor of piano at USM, where she teaches applied piano to graduate and undergraduate piano majors. She is an active collaborator with USM faculty and guest artists and has performed throughout the United States and South America as soloist, collaborator and masterclass clinician.

Dr. Elder has been the winner of many competitions and awards for solo performance and teaching and has been asked to compete in many international competitions, including the 2006 Johann Sebastian Bach International Competition in Leipzig, Germany, where she was one of only three Americans invited. She has been featured as soloist with the USM Symphony Orchestra and the University of Michigan Philharmonia Orchestra, as winner of the concerto competitions at those institutions.

On the program April 20 will be works by Manuel de Falla, Radam Es Gnattali, David Popper, and Frank Proto.

The season is upon us! Get your calendars updated and tickets in hand! We have a delightful musical spring to enjoy!

Your toe-tapping scribe,

Elizabeth Wolf

Natchez Festival of Music
P.O. Box 2207
Natchez, MS 39121

NATCHEZ, Miss. — The 83rd commemoration of the Rhythm Night Club fire of April 23, 1940, will be held at 12 p.m. Saturday, April 22, at the Rhythm Night Club (on site) Memorial Museum at #5 St. Catherine Street, Natchez.

This event is held annually by Monroe and Betty Sago, the owners and operators of the museum.

This year’s program will feature Mayor Dan Gibson as the guest speaker. As in past years, the event will include music and a presentation of a scholarship to a local high school student.

Last year’s scholarship went to Kerrigan Winding, a Cathedral student who plans to go to Southern Miss., according to Betty Sago. Winding is “a student who will study speech pathology because her cousin needed speech therapy,” she said.

Door prizes will be given away and refreshments will be provided. The program is free to the public.

The Rhythm Night Club Museum tells the tragic story of the fire that killed more than 200 people, including Walter Barnes and members of his band. The museum opened in 2010 on the actual site of the original building at 5 St. Catherine St.

Visitors from across the United States visit the museum to hear the stories, see the images, and hear the recorded voices of those who survived the fire.

For more information, visit https://www.rnconsitemm.org

Monroe and Betty Sago are pictured here honoring the victims and survivors of the Rhythm Night Club fire at an earlier commemoration ceremony.