protect yourself from infection (2020) 6'

I was asked to contribute some music to the Mütter Museum’s exhibition in honor of the centennial year of an infamous parade that took place in Philadelphia during the great Spanish flu epidemic of 1918 / 1919. The parade was infamous because it was held in spite of the medical advice that people needed to isolate themselves, and because of this it became a major local vector for the spread of the disease. Completely coincidentally, I am named after a relative of blessed memory who died in that epidemic. Jews often name their children with the initials of relatives who have died – I am David Avery Lang, named after my father’s cousin, Daniel Abraham Leibowitz. My Leibowitz ancestors had only fairly recently arrived in America from Lithuania. Young Daniel Abraham turned 18 and enlisted in the army, and was sent to boot camp in Georgia, where he got sick and died. He meant a lot to the family, because he was living proof of the deep and real commitment of the new immigrants to the United States. His enlistment meant that they would belong here, and his death rattled them all so much that they were still mourning him when I was born, 38 years later.

For my piece I wrote two kinds of music that coexist, separately. There is a kind of musical motto, sung by The Crossing and conducted by Donald Nally, which I made out of a health manual that the United States put out at the time of the epidemic, called ‘Protect Yourself from Infection.’ Over this motto, individual singers of The Crossing take turns singing solo melodies that I made out of both the individual names of Philadelphians who died from the epidemic and the individual names of Philadelphians who worked in healthcare during the epidemic, caring for the sick.

Protect yourself from infection

Keep well and don’t get hysterical

Avoid being sprayed by the nose and throat secretions of others

Beware of those who are coughing or sneezing

Avoid crowded streetcars

Walk to the office if possible

Keep out of crowds

Avoid theaters, moving picture shows and other places of public assembly

Do not travel by railroad unless absolutely necessary

Do not drink from glasses or cups which have been used by others

Unless you are sure they have been thoroughly cleansed

You can do much to lessen the danger to yourself

By keeping in good physical condition

Avoid close, stuffy and poorly ventilated rooms

Insist upon fresh air but avoid disagreeable drafts

Eat simple, nourishing food and drink plenty of water

Secure at least seven hours of sleep

Avoid physical fatigue

Do not sleep or sit around in damp clothing

Keep the feet dry

If you become ill don’t try to keep on with your work

Fight the disease rationally and do not become unduly alarmed