THE LONESOME TRAIN A MUSICAL LEGEND
Give me words of significance, poetry that sings, theater, film, dance, any kind of action that asks for a musical underpinning, and I can compose just fine.
Earl Robinson (1910-1981)
Now virtually forgotten, The Lonesome Train was hailed as an American masterpiece when it premiered on CBS Radio in the midst of World War II. A parable framed around Abraham Lincoln's funeral train, it was staged in major concert halls with symphony orchestras and massive choirs. High schools mounted modest productions for day- time assemblies. Colleges and countless community the- ater groups delivered its inspirational message about freedom and racial harmony to audiences throughout the country. Its appeal was not just limited to the United States; productions were held in Canada and eight foreign countries.