In other cases, the women would pour the clay into a mould made of pottery, wood or a calabash. Clay pots were and still are being used to cook food, store water and for various other food preparation functions.
Now it's up to C. J. to hunt down the hat in time for the photo shoot. Little does C. J. know that his whirlwind search through Harlem sets in motion the making of a magical moment of friendship and music. Illustrated with exuberance by fine artist Frank Morrison, Sweet Music in Harlem is an action-packed romp inspired by an historic photograph from Harlem's jazz heyday. Readers everywhere will rejoice in the power of music to bring people together in wonderful, fun-filled ways. For additional connections and exploration of themes, pair these field trip and activity ideas with Sweet Music in Harlem.
Then, the clarinet, played by the African-American musician Anthony McGill of the Metropolitan Opera orchestra, interjects with a familiar tune. It's Simple Gifts, written in the mid-1800s by a Shaker composer and popularized by Aaron Copland in his 1944 ballet Appalachian Spring.. In the face of the awesome tasks facing Obama, Williams' arrangement of the song conveys a joyous romp filled with confidence and hope.