AMERICAN HIGHWAYS # 115 KEYS OF CHANGE: GENE PRITSKER

My guest tonight on episode 115 of American highways is composer and polymath Gene Pritsker, who will be remembered as the greatest kabuki opera composer of our time. Or not. Actually Gene is a radically experimental composer living in New York. I visited him at his chaotic studio, and we talked and laughed for two hours about music. Also we drank Maxwell House™ instant coffee and his dog Rosa sang for me. Yes, you’ll hear her on this show, at the very end.

Political lives, musical lives

A series on ten American musicians whose work was/is profoundly influenced by the forces of politics. This series grew out of a conversation I had a few years ago with composer and improviser Donal Fox. We began arguing about the relevance of race in music, and realized that our conflicting ideas made for a wonderful dialogue. Hence the inspiration for “Keys of Change.”

Ten Musicians

Some, like Paul Robeson and Marc Blitzstein, were communists; others, like Charles Ives, were more conservative. Some, like Lotte Lenya, were unwillingly dragged into politics, and kept their distance even while their music encouraged others. Alternatively, Gene Pritsker has thrown himself into political activism, using his music to project an intensely personal message.

 

Playlist:

Gene Pritsker and Sebastian Pritsker, composers

‘Berlin Suite’

Absolute Ensemble, Kristjan Jarvi – conducting; with: Michiyo Suzuki, Daniel Schnyder, Charlie Porter,