This Friday and Saturday the Rev. John P. Schlegel, S.J., will have a chance to speak the words of one of America’s greatest presidents. Schlegel will narrate Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait” with the Omaha Symphony. Along with Schlegel, there will be photochoreography by James Westwater during the performance.

The program, entitled “All-American Fanfare,” features works by American composers strictly. Angela Cassette said that the Omaha Symphony has a great commitment to performing pieces byAmerican composers.

“We feel really strongly that American orchestras should be playing American music,” she said.

According to the symphony’s press release, the text of “Lincoln Portrait” blends a biographical sketch of Abraham Lincoln with excerpts from his most famous speeches. Schlegel said he thinks it is an accurate representation of the famous president.

“It gives you a visual of what he was, and then I think the words he chose are very meaningful and very contemporary.” Schlegel said. “The message is very important – the Gettsyburg Address and the sense of democracy and sense of equality. He says ‘just as I would not be a slave, I would not be a slave master,” I mean that’s the Lincoln we know.”

The musical themes also show the growth and story of Lincoln. Dr. Jay Wise, a professor of applied music and trombone player in the symphony, said that the orchestra complements Lincoln’s words with accompaniment is some places and commentary in others.

“The music changes throughout the piece to reflect important changes in Lincoln’s life and in America during his lifetime. It begins with folk-song simplicity but gradually becomes more involved and complex, with the signature 4-note melody being transformed and layered as the sounds of the rural South and the industrial North are juxtaposed and eventually clash into war,” Wise said.

The photochoreography by Westwater, entitled “The Eternal Struggle,” is a visual and musical portrait of Lincoln, the Civil War and the ongoing struggle for freedom, justice and equality, according to the press release. Tomhas Wilkins, the music director of the Omaha Symphony, said the photochoreography is just simply beautiful and poignant.

Schlegel said he thinks the presentation will be a good addition to the program.

“The pictorial that will be in the background I think will probably be a real distraction and therefore take them away from me and just let the voice do it, and I really sort of like that,” Schelegel said.

Cassette said Westwater has a love for classical music and photography, and he wanted to merge the two together. She also said Westwater has connections with American history that made him want to put together this pictorial about the challenges Americans have faced throughout our history.

Schlegel said that Copland wrote in the original score that he was not looking for a great dramatist, just someone who would simply speak the words because Lincoln himself was not a great orator. Schlegel said the message is in the words themselves, not how they are presented. Copland wanted someone just to tell it straight, and that is what he plans to do. Schlegel said he watched some of the versions on YouTube to get a start.

“I’m a big fan of Katherine Hepburn, and she was declaiming all over the place. And I’m thinking that would get Copland out of his grave kind of thing. And then I have Henry Fonda, a good old Omaha voice, does it very matter-of- factly, and I really like the way he does it. I’m going to intone it a little differently, but it will just be like this conversation.”

Schelgel said he did drama and forensics throughout high school, which is originally got him doing things like this. He has also done the voice of Paul Bunyan for the Omaha Opera. Wilkins said he chose him for his voice.

The piece was originally written in 1943, when America was fighting in World War II. Cassette said the history that “Lincoln Portrait” covers is relevant to people today, and Schlegel said something similar in a separate interview.

“The message contained in this piece not only reflects the integrity and greatness of Lincoln but holds a message that is as relevant and poignant today as it was in 1863 when Lincoln spoke those words and in 1942 when Copland composed the piece,” Schlegel said. “It proves great music is timeless and timely. It just sort of gives you goosepimples when you do these things.”

Cassette said the whole program is one that should not be missed. Along with “Lincoln Portrait,” Copland’s Third Symphony will be performed as well as a suite from Bernstein’s “Candide”. Cassette said the arrangement of “Candide” is not one that has been performed very often, so it is “unique and really great.”

“These works are by two of the giants in American Classical Music. In addition, they present a stunning display of how both popular culture (musically speaking) and societal realities in both the 19th and 20th centuries influenced the creative process,” Wilkins said.

He said the whole program is emotional, patriotic and full of moments that represent the best of what it means to be a human being. Wise agreed and added that both Bernstein and Copland have influenced American art.

“The composers and their works have defined American orchestral, theater, film and ballet music for audiences and musicians alike,” Wise said.

“It is an all-American concert, which we don’t get all the time,” Schlegel said. “And it is pure Americana. I mean Copland is, and you can’t get better than that.”