Music and Justice begins Sunday, Our New Video Previews What’s In Store
February 24, 2023
When Dave Brubeck composed The Gates of Justice in 1969, America was at a crossroads. The assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had dealt a serious blow to the Civil Rights Movement, the war in Vietnam was becoming the dominant social concern, and demonstrations across the country were erupting in violence. Our new short documentary video sheds new light on the turbulent time in which Dave Brubeck, along with his wife and collaborator, Iola, sought to bring two cultures together in an eclectic and adventurous composition with a profound spiritual message.
This video is a result of our wonderful partnership with the UCLA Lowell Milken Center for Music of American Jewish Experience and comes on the cusp of an exciting series of concerts and discussions about the role of music in the pursuit of social justice. Join us, live or virtually, on Sunday, February 26th at 4:00 PM (PST) for a concert of The Gates of Justice and a diverse slate of six compositions by contemporary composers aiming to change the world through music.
Unfortunately, it also comes at a time of rising antisemitism and anti-Black violence, and an emboldened white supremacist movement currently planning a “national day of hate.” Participating in these concerts and conversations is one way to stand up to hate and build the unity that our survival depends on. We hope that the work's central message, drawn directly from the words of Martin Luther King—"If we do not live together as brothers, we will die together as fools"—will resound far beyond the walls of the concert hall.
