Marking Pennsylvania History

Philadelphia Music Needs More Markers

The region's sound has always been praised, but when it comes to its history and influences, not much is marked. Oh, there's a familiar blue and yellow stanchion on Route 202 near Doylestown, at the bucolic landscape of Oscar Hammerstein's farm which inspired "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning" for the musical Oklahoma! And on Church Street in West Chester, the boyhood home of composer Samuel Barber has a marker informing passers by that he wrote the song for West Chester High School.

And visitors to Center City Philadelphia will see something on the achievements of John Coltrane; Frank Johnson, Marian Anderson and the Union Local 274, American Federation of Musicians. These are marked in the appropriate places throughout the city - and have been featured in this series. But, other than a marker for American Bandstand and passing reference to the Musical Fund on Locust Street where John C. Fremont began his futile bid for the U.S. Presidency, the city's musical past is only marked by a small handful of additional sites for composer Vincent Persichetti, singers Paul Robeson, Elizabeth T. Greenfield, and Mario Lanza.

Nothing against these performers who were giants of their day, but is that it? Is that the best we can do?

What landmark musical events took place at the Academy of Music, home to the Philadelphia Orchestra from 1900 until 2001? How about at the Curtis Institute of Music, the Academy of Vocal Arts, or Settlement Music School? How about the Metropolitan Opera House at Broad and Poplar? How about the fact that Lorenzo DaPonte, Mozart's librettist, lived with his great music library across from Christ Church? And that does not even touch upon Philadelphia's additional contributions in jazz, gospel, and folk music.

What are you waiting for? The deadline for new marker nominations this year - and every year -- is December 15th.

- Kenneth FInkel, Executive Director of WHYY's Arts & Culture Service

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