510 Pearl Street
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
4 June 2008
Dear John F. Kennedy Library and Foundation:
I would like to announce the discovery and restoration of a musical composition entitled: “‘Let the word go forth’: 6 excerpts from the inaugural address of John F. Kennedy” by Norman A Gifford. It is performed by Highland Park, Michigan, High School Concert Choir, circa 1964-1965. I believe that this brilliant composition and performance has historic significance and should be housed in the Kennedy Library. I have recently restored and transferred the music onto a CD. I call the CD “Highland Park, Michigan, Choral History Vol. 2” and it features the JFK inaugural composition. If the library is interested in hearing and possibly housing this CD, I will be happy to send you a copy as a gift from me, my choirmates, and Mr. Keith Sturdevant, director. I would also like to send a copy to Caroline Kennedy. I hope you can direct this letter to the appropriate person.
Below I have outlined a brief history of this music composition:
I grew up in the small Detroit suburb of Highland Park, Michigan. In terms of achievements, for most people, Highland Park represents outstanding high school basketball programs and players, most notably Bobby Joe Hill who was portrayed as the hero in the movie "Glory Road". I am sure that many people have very fond memories of their high school years. But, during our time, the 1950s and 1960s, Highland Park was indeed a particularly special place. Our city and school had everything. Heavily due to the taxes paid by Ford, Chrysler, and Excello Corporation, the schools had wonderful curricula, faculties, and facilities. Furthermore, while most communities around the United States were pursuing “The Dream”, Highland Park, Michigan, was living “The Dream”: white children and black children singing together in perfect harmony. Alas however, for Highland Park, the dream has now faded.
However in spite of its legendary basketball program, I believe that arguably the most outstanding program at the high school was its choral program, lead by Mr. Keith Sturdevant (now 87 years old); and since I was not only a member of the concert choir but also the co-captain of the 1967 basketball team, my opinion is based on experience. Not only did we have a brilliant director leading us, but we also had a brilliant accompanist and composer in residence, Mr. Norman A. Gifford (now deceased). He was quiet, unassuming, supportive, and brilliant; and he composed music just for our choirs. (Can you imagine, a high school in the 1960s that had its own composer in residence, writing brilliant music just for us!)?
A number of years ago now, I recovered from a closet a couple of old reel-to-reel tapes of our 1966 and 1967 Spring Tour Concerts, purchased for me by my mother in my junior and senior years. A few years ago, I somehow acquired an old reel-to-reel player and listened to them. Halfway through the 1966 tape, I was reduced to tears; I could not believe what I was hearing.
Since that first discovery, I have discovered more reel-to-reel tapes of our performances, which I have now used to produce a 4-CD box set. The forth CD, which I recently completed, includes a composition that, I believe, the Kennedy library, the Kennedy foundation, and the extended Kennedy family should hear. In 1964, at Mr. Sturdevant’s request, Mr. Gifford composed for us a memorial to John F. Kennedy incorporating six excerpts from his inaugural address. It was titled, “‘Let the word go forth’: 6 excerpts from the inaugural address of John F. Kennedy.” I believe that this beautifully performed composition not only documents an important period in our childhood, but it also documents an important period in the history of this country. Therefore, I hope that those of you involved in archiving John F Kennedy‘s legacy will consider listening to and perhaps giving this music a home in your archives. If you would like a copy of our 4th CD for your archives as well as for Caroline Kennedy, please send your mailing address via the contact information below.
Sincerely,
Clifford Larkins, Ph.D.