Ode to joy Tribute concert to benefit Maine Seacoast Mission

Ashley Bryan’s life is a multidimensional performance. Painter, sculptor, writer, storyteller, performer, and full embracer of life, Bryan is one of those inspirational figures for whom creativity suffuses every activity. Knock on the door of his home on Little Cranberry Island and he beams an enveloping smile. His love of people, life, children and art permeates his every activity. It’s fitting, then, that a celebration in his honor is an orchestration that seems to know no bounds, drawing on artistry from multiple talents, generations and locales.

Sunday, July 18, at 7 p.m., Bryan will be joined at the Maine Seacoast Mission in Bar Harbor by a children’s chorus from across the Maine islands and a quintet of musicians as he narrates the poems in his book, “Sing to the Sun.” The music is that of acclaimed classical composer Alvin Singleton of Atlanta, Ga., commissioned to write the song cycle by Sara Bloom, an oboist who summers on Great Cranberry.

“This is a celebration of Ashley’s spirit. He has the joy of a child,” says Bloom, describing Bryan’s life as its own kind of mission: “He spreads joy wherever he goes.”

The cast of characters in this celebration is not only large, but extremely illustrious. Bryan, though he modestly claims to be a volunteer like any other, is the central figure. Former chair of the art department of Dartmouth College, Bryan moved to Little Cranberry Island in 1979. He has since become world-renowned for writing and illustrating children’s books, most being joyous celebrations of African and African-American culture. In his nearly 40 books, he has retold folk tales from Africa and the Caribbean, illustrated poetry by Langston Hughes and Nikki Giovanni, created a storybook from Louis Armstrong’s cover of the life-affirming “It’s a Wonderful Life,” anthologized African-American poetry and proverbs for children, and much more. In 2004, he won the coveted Coretta Scott King Award for his illustrations to “Beautiful Blackbird.” It was the second time he won this honor.

Bryan’s bright illustrations, shining with suns and wide-eyed children, are distinctive. Equally distinctive is the powerful voice with which Bryan tells his stories to children, summoning a percussive rhythm that seems to recall ancient African storytellers, though it is fully Bryan’s interpretation. Says Bloom, who was one of the first professional women oboists in this country, “Ashley is a musical genius. He has the timing of Heifetz.”

During annual concerts on the Cranberries, Bloom had been entranced by Bryan’s musicality. In the 1990s, Bloom, who is masterminding next Sunday’s concert with legions of volunteers, had a grant to commission five compositions by separate composers. She forwarded Singleton a recording of Bryan speaking his poem “Sing to the Sun” created by Audio Bookshelf of Northport, Maine. It was inspiration at first listen.

Says Singleton, “Sara Bloom called Ashley Bryan the world’s best-kept secret. He is, he’s a national treasure. I thought ‘Sing to the Sun’ was so imaginative. It is a group of his own poetry and illustrations and it is one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen. I was inspired by the poetry of it. It’s equally accessible to adults and children.”

Singleton chose five poems from the book to set to music: “Sing to the Sun,” “Full Moon,” “Rain Coming,” “The Hurricane” and “Pretty Is.” Continues Singleton: “I’ve created a landscape type piece with a lot of space. The hurricane poem is quite dramatic, the children imitate the wind as Bryan narrates: ‘I say to my friends, stop wind stop, stop wind stop.'”

Singleton’s most public piece was probably “Umoja,” commissioned for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta using words by poet Rita Dove, narrated by Andrew Young. But the Atlanta composer says he rarely uses text in his work, though he responded to Bryan’s work. “Ashley’s work spoke to me in really creative ways.”

He’d like to do more with Bryan, but can’t keep up with his schedule. Though Bryan is a good 25 years older than Singleton, the composer laments, “We’ve discussed it, but with his schedule … I don’t even know who the youngster is, and the way he travels, his spirit, the spirit that lives with him.”

Whenever “Sing to the Sun” is performed, Bryan narrates. Also, whenever it is performed, each chorus sings something of its own. “That comes from Ashley,” says Bloom. “He always says, ‘I give to you and you give to me.'”

Knowing that this song cycle was never produced in Maine, Bloom thought it would be a fitting tribute to Bryan, who turns 81 this month. While Bloom and other organizers see this benefit as celebrating Bryan’s multiple connections to Maine, the islands, its children, and children everywhere, Bryan is focused on the important work done by the Seacoast Mission.

“I live year-round on an island,” says Bryan, “I know the importance of outreach. I’m doing this for the Maine Seacoast Mission.”

The mission assists with a range of Maine island activities, from transporting island children to such cultural enrichment activities as visiting Bryan’s remarkable studio to its telemedicine program that brings an interactive video camera out to the islands so patients, along with traveling nurses, can consult with doctors off-island.

The chorus will combine children from islands that have benefited from the mission’s work: Little Cranberry, Great Cranberry, Frenchboro, North Haven, Vinalhaven, Islesboro, along with Mount Desert Island.

Tom Wallace, choir director at St. Saviour’s Church and the Eden Children’s Chorus in Bar Harbor, a former music teacher on the Cranberries, directs the chorus. Playing Singleton’s rather intricate structures will be a quintet composed of oboe, clarinet, percussion, viola and piano. But the voices always belong to children. Part of the reason is to bring children into a working relationship with professional musicians. More important is the quality of the poetry. With lines that begin, “Sing to the sun and it will listen, sing to the moon and it will hear,” Singleton says, “It can only be sung by children. The poetry is so innocent, adults would really spoil it.”

As for Bryan, whenever he goes out to perform, whether in a school, library or grand benefit concert, what he most looks forward to is the children. “I look forward to anything that brings out the creative spirit of children. That’s what’s most important.”

The Maine Seacoast Mission is located at 127 West St. in Bar Harbor. The July 18 concert begins at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $10 per adult and $5 per child. For information, call 288-5097 or 888-824-7258. Donna Gold can be reached at carpenter@acadia.net.