Vision Through Rounds

The Life and Music of Joaquín Rodrigo: Vision Through Sounds

Blind at the age of three due to an epidemic of diphtheria that swept through his hometown of Sagunto, Spain, composer Joaquín Rodrigo (1901-1999) survived both world wars, the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), and numerous personal challenges to become one of the most beloved musical figures of the twentieth century. This project introduces the life story and select music compositions by Joaquín Rodrigo, providing a historical perspective of a young, visually impaired man growing up in a time without technology, accessibility, or advanced tools.  He was faced with terrifying and difficult situations—including educational challenges, social outcast, and political unrest—in his inequitable environment.  And still, he persevered and became one of the most beloved composers, offering exceptional gifts to the world.  Distinctive in approach,The Life and Music of Joaquín Rodrigo: Vision Through Sounds offers the experience aurally: history, music and perceptions are communicated completely through sound.

 Description

The Life and Music of Joaquín Rodrigo: Vision Through Sounds is a dramatization based on a recording titled El niño soñó la música (The Little Boy Who Imagined Music), published in 2003 through the publishing house of the composer’s only child Cecilia Rodrigo, Editorial Joaquín Rodrigo. Translated into English, the reading of the script includes live performance sound clips from an acoustic piano, plus other sound clips: effects like rain, children playing, and bird calls enhance the listening experience. 

 There are only three personnel required to present the story: someone to portray a narrator, someone to portray a doctor, and Dr. Dena Kay Jones, the pianist performer.  This thirty-five-minute experience (of combining the reading of a script plus the inserts of audio clips) is followed with a twenty-minute live performance of select Rodrigo piano pieces.  Thereafter, the program is followed by dialogue between select students and Dr. Jones. With the assistance of teacher educators who work daily with the students, Dr. Jones is eager to hear what the students have to say after they have had a chance to reflect upon the presentation.  

Mission

As of today, Dr. Jones' research has touched just a small number within this specific community, whereas it has reached many more sighted people.  She wants to even that exchange, encouraging all people to better understand each other and ourselves.  The potential of this type of presentation can be limitless, as the model could be used to introduce the work of other composers, musicians, athletes, business executives, scientists, or anyone who has responded to the challenges of being visually impaired, to not only students attending Schools for the Blind, but to any educational resource within the U.S.  

Participating Schools

Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Illinois School for the Visually Impaired, Jacksonville, Illinois