Letter to Andre

Dear Andre and Marjorie,      
Monday, December 4, 2006

Thank you, with all my heart for the beautiful music and joy you have given to me and the world. I know you
both make many personal sacrifices to do it. No one deserves more admiration and respect than the two of
you. I cannot begin to tell you how much you have enriched my life. Because of you, Andre, I bought a piano
after going 10 years without one. I went back to playing, and finished a composition I started 30 years ago. It’s
a rhapsody I call Dreaming On A Star, because you encourage people to have dreams and to follow them.  
Because of you, I have friends all over the world, and in many other states. Ninety pictures of them hang on a
wall in my home. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting some of them in person.

I’ve met you several times, Andre. Perhaps you will remember me if I tell you I’m the lady who gave you the
blue and white quilt at the Meet and Greet in Kansas City, May 3, 2005. I’m NOT the one from Iowa. The quilt
was my thanks to you for all the joys you have given me. (pictures enclosed) There were many things I wanted
to say then, but there wasn't time. I did tell you -- Je mag niet op dit lapjes dekentje zitten tijdens een concert.
Het is niet voor picnics met kaude kip en limonade. Again, because of you, and the Dutch friends you gave me,
I’ve learned a little Nederlands. I am sure my accent was awful, but you laughed at my little joke and seemed
very pleased with the quilt. I’m curious what did you did with it. I hope you gave it to Marjorie, or use it for naps
on your red bench, or hung it on a wall in your castle. But this is not why I am writing this letter.

I write to both of you because I don’t know what else to do. I am deeply concerned about the 2007 American
tour. All reports I’ve heard from Europe indicate that the Harlem Gospel Choir will be with the tour, and that
much of the second half of the concert is taken up by them. I will be very disappointed if this is true. The choir
appears to be much appreciated in Europe where they are a rare event. That is not the case here. Please do
not think what I am going to say comes from prejudice. It does not. I have two half Black grandchildren and
many African American friends. This is about music. I do appreciate the choir’s talent, but this kind of singing is
almost exclusive to Black communities, and is not liked by mainstream America. I was in Maastricht for the
concerts last July and heard the choir myself. To be honest, it was hard to stay in my seat and listen after their
first number. They were screaming the music. So loud it was less than pleasant and far from enjoyable. If I had
not known the words to their songs, I couldn’t have understood them. Andre, I absolutely don’t want to offend
you in any way, and certainly would never presume to tell you how to do anything. But I know my own people,
and I know my country’s faults. Factors are present in America which may be of great significance to you, and
no one seems to have made you aware of them. Please, forgive me, if I am doing wrong by telling you.  

I have tickets for the Philadelphia and Atlantic City concerts in April, and will attend even if the choir is with
you. But I’ve spoken to nearly a hundred friends and fans, and many say they will not attend if the choir is part
of the program. Some say they will leave during the choir's performance. My reply to them was, “Don’t do it.
You will be insulting Andre, as well as the choir.” I’ve also learned two PBS stations are now getting requests
for refunds if this choir is with the tour. You worked long and hard for years to get recognition in America. It has
finally come. Some of it came through the efforts of dedicated fans who worked diligently to promote and
publicize your concerts any way we could. I am very proud I was part of it. That work reached thousands of
people. I can not emphasize enough that this choir can put your success here at risk. American fans go to your
concerts to hear you, and your incredible orchestra, and the profoundly beautiful voices of the soloists. We
can hear ethnic gospel music any Sunday in any Black church in America at no charge. People simply will not
pay from $200 to $1000 to sit and listen to it. Life long classical music lovers will be offended by it. Those you’
ve finally convinced that it doesn’t have to be played in a stiff formal atmosphere will be horrified and you will
lose them completely. Including this music on the tour can reverse all the gains you’ve made in America. It is
you, Andre; you and the music that touches our hearts with joy, beauty, and fun that is so wanted and so very  
much needed. We go to your concerts to hear what is not available to us anywhere else. No one can equal
what you have given us. You have blessed our lives beyond measure, and we would be in heaven, indeed, if
we could hear solos from you now and then.

If the Harlem Gospel Choir joins the 2007 tour, I know many fans, both old and new, will immediately be turned
off by this music at every concert. That isn’t exaggeration. The sound is offensive to most ears. I have no idea
what influences cause you to feel this is what America wants. Whatever they are, they are mistaken. Please,
believe me, your audiences here do not want this music. Even if only a few people were to leave in mid-
performance, I would be ashamed, but I won’t be surprised. I have another worry. I don't know if it happens in
Holland, but here, audiences sometimes boo or harass performances they strongly dislike. The great majority
of your fans would never do such a rude thing, or walk out during a concert. But there are some who would. I
hope and pray it does not happen. I will be very embarrassed for my country, for you, and for the choir if it
does. I also worry about how it will affect attendance. Many fans already say they will stay away rather than
endure this choir and may not return for future concerts. I beg you to take these things into consideration when
making your decision. No matter what you decide to do, I will be there. I’ve been to twelve concerts and even
came to Holland just to see and hear you and your magnificent musicians. I’ll go anywhere I can to see your
concerts. I’ve also been to concerts by Black Choirs that were beautiful and melodic, and I’ve felt the joy of
their soul touching music. The Harlem Gospel Choir I heard last July did not have those qualities. I can quickly
sum up my own feelings about any music presented as they do it. It’s very close to rock, and I detest rock
music. It’s repetitive, often vulgar, and painfully loud. Someone who never heard the word, pianissimo, writes a
half a dozen words to a few measures of notes – plays and screams it twenty times at decibels a stone deaf
person could hear, and calls it music. It isn’t. It’s monotonous, irritating noise. If music has charms to soothe
the savage beast, it also has the power to provoke a human one. I find no redeeming qualities in music that
frequently incites disgusting and violent behavior. That’s how I feel about rock. But ANY music presented in
that way makes me feel irritable and angry. I don’t like to feel that way. I want to experience the beauty that
moves me to tears of happiness. I want to feel the serenity, joy, and utter delight of YOUR music. So do the
vast majority of American fans.

Others have written of these same feelings and fears regarding the Harlem Gospel Choir, though their
comments are not put in the guest book. I understand why, and agree with it. It would be unkind to have them
read these unfavorable sentiments. They are exceptionally talented in the type of music they do, and are well
loved in ethnic communities. That doesn’t change the fact that this music is not accepted by the general
concert going public in America. None of us write out of anger or dislike of anyone. We write because we love
and care about you. We write because we fear what will happen if the choir is with the tour. Please, consider
what we say, Andre. What we are trying to tell you is true. For the most part, we are good, very nice people.
What I’ve tried to tell you is we that have a bad side, too. I apologize to you, if I was wrong to do it, but I hope it
is of help. While I remain very worried about this, I have not, and will not, give your home address to anyone. I
know it because I was there. The first time was October, 2005. You and Marjorie were standing in the street at
the construction site in front of the castle, talking, less than five meters from me. I could have spoken to you or
taken your picture. I didn‘t. I took one picture of the castle only, and left. But, oh, how I wish I could have talked
with both of you.
Sincerely and respectfully ....
name
and address & email address ...   

PS: There is a special Black Choir I dearly love. It is The African Children's Choir, and they tour. These
precious, beautiful children, ages 7 to 11, are all orphans from war, disease or poverty in Africa. But with hope
in their small hearts, they sing with joy and love. They are as talented as Akim, and as delightful as the little
Japanese angels you brought us. Just type African Children's Choir in your computer browser and see for
yourself. They have a wonderful, heartwarming story, but be careful, Andre, or you will fall in love with them,
too.    By the way - -  what did you do with “my” quilt?