We, Heather Pierson and I, will be singing this hauntingly beautiful song set to music from Dvorak’s 9th Symphony. We’re doing it at David Bradley’s Memorial Service next Saturday afternoon in Norway, Maine, at our First Universalist Church. Dave was a totally remarkable man who died last week, January 7, at the age of 92. Even though he could hardly walk and had trouble sometimes concentrating, he continued to sing in our choir, until finally he couldn’t make it anymore just a few weeks ago. One of his favorite songs was this Goin’ Home set to the music of the Largo of the New World Symphony of Antonin Dvorak. Dave always wanted me to sing it but some parts of it are a bit high for me, so Heather will sing it with me and cover the high parts.
Below is the obituary for Dave from the Lewiston Sun Journal. And below that is the wonderful rendition of Goin’ Home sung by the great Paul Robeson. It was pitched lower for his beautiful bass voice.
David J. Bradley
Sunday, January 13, 2008
NORWAY – David J. Bradley, 92, of Norway, died Jan. 7.
Born on Feb. 22, 1915, he grew up in Madison, Wis., and attended Dartmouth College.
In 1938, he was National Ski Champion in Nordic Combined and a member of the U.S. Olympic Ski Team in 1940, cancelled due to the war.
He later entered the Army and Harvard Medical School, completing a surgical residency. In 1941, he married and had six children.
He was a medical officer at atomic bomb tests in the Bikini Islands in 1946, and wrote a bestseller, “No Place to Hide,” about this experience. Other books include “Expert Skiing,” “Lion Among Roses,” and “Robert Frost: A Tribute to the Source.”
He taught at Dartmouth College.
In 1985, he was inducted into the Ski Hall of Fame.
Following a divorce, he married Sally Tucker Smart in 1998 and settled in Norway.
He is survived by his wife Sally of Norway; six children, including Kim Emmons of Norway; stepson, Kevin Smart of Norway; 11 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews, including Ben Tucker III of Norway.
Here’s Paul Robeson, live at Carnegie Hall in 1958, singing Goin’ Home. Thanks to Indigo1045 for posting the music on YouTube.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBrEQYRcizk&feature=related[/youtube]
Here’s a comment by bejazzytwo on Paul Robeson:
Indigo, I thank you for posting this music by Paul Robeson….His voice has not been stilled!!!…Our government forbade him a living because of politics and prejudice…yet the music lives on despite politics or racist motivation. The voice and music are for all people, regardless to color, status, political persuasion or any other disadvantages suffered…all who loved music and all who believed in human rights knew this man among men!!!!…Long live his legacy!!!!!
And I might add: Long live the legacy of David Bradley, another remarkable man and genius, too!
Finally, to hear Lawrence Tibbett sing Goin’ Home in the original key, the one we’re doing it in, go here.
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