Gillian Anderson performs a letter by Helen Keller

one of Helen Keller's great sorrows in her life was the nature of her speaking voice and so tonight she will have a sweet speaking voice 93 Seminole Avenue Forest Hills Long Island February 2nd 1924 the New York Symphony Orchestra New York City dear friends I have the joy of being able to tell you that though deaf and blind I spent a glorious hour last night listening over the radio to Beethoven's Ninth Symphony I do not mean to say that I heard the music in the sense that other people heard it and I do not know whether I can make you understand how it was possible for me to derive pleasure from the symphony it was a great surprise to myself I had been reading in my magazine for the blind of the happiness that the radio was bringing to the sightless everywhere I was delighted to know that the blind had gained a new source of enjoyment but I did not dream that I could have any part of their joy last night when my family was listening to your wonderful rendering of the immortal symphony someone suggested that I put my hands on the receiver and see if I could get any of the vibrations he unscrewed the cap and I'd lightly touched the sensitive diaphragm what was my amazement to discover that I could feel not only the vibrations but also the impassioned rhythm the throb and the urge of the music the intertwined and intermingling vibrations from different instruments chanted me I could actually distinguish the cornets the role of the drums deep-toned violas and violins singing in exquisite unison how the lovely speech of the violins flowed and plowed over the deepest tones of the other instruments when the human voice lapped up trilling from the surge of harmony I recognized them instantly as voices I felt the chorus grow more exultant more ecstatic up curving Swift and flame-like until my heart almost Stood Still the women's voices seemed an embodiment of all the angelic voices rushing in a harmonious flood of beautiful and inspiring sound the great chorus throbbed against my fingers with poignant pause and flow then all the instruments and voices together burst forth an ocean of heavenly vibration and died away like winds when the atom is spent ending in a delicate shower of sweet notes of course this was not hearing but I do know that the tones and harmonies conveyed to me moods of great beauty and majesty I also sensed or thought I did the tender sounds of nature that sing into my hand swaying reeds and winds and the murmur of streams I have never been so enraptured before by a multitude of tone vibrations as I listened with darkness and melody shadow and sound filling all the room I could not help remembering that the great composer who poured forth such a flood of sweetness into the world was deaf like myself I marveled at the power of his quenchless spirits by which out of his pain he brought such joy for others and there i sat feeling with my hand the Magnificent symphony which broke like a sea upon the silent shores of his soul and mine let me thank you warmly for all the delight which your beautiful music has brought to my household and to me I want also to thank station WEA F for the joy they are broadcasting in the world with kindest regards and best wishes I am Sincerely Yours Helen Keller

Channel: Isobel Thompson

Views: 81,613

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Id: CQIWnphdx2Q

Length: 5min 38sec (338 seconds)

Published: Wed Sep 21 2016