Today’s show focuses on Paul Robeson and Marc Blitzstein, both ardent socialists, passionate musicians, charismatic personalities, and most of all, both willing to lay everything on the line for their beliefs. Both were harassed by the House Un-american Committee. In the end, Marc was murdered because he was gay. And Robeson died depressed, his life in ruins because of his communist associations.

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.”

AMERICAN HIGHWAYS # 109 KEYS OF CHANGE

Theme Music 0.1

Charles Ives, arr William Schuman

Variations on America

The Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy

RCA Red Seal ‎– SB 6798

Theme Music 0.2

Donal Fox

The Scream

Guy Livingston, piano

WERGO 6649-2

Trad, arr. Brown

Go Down, Moses

Joshua fit the battle of Jericho

Paul Robeson, bass

Roslin Records 2011

Marc Blitzstein

“The Purest Kind of a Guy” (Joe’s Birthday Song) from the opera No for an Answer

Paul Robeson Jr., bass & Lawrence Brown, piano

Sony BMG Music 1997 re-release

traditional

Hassidic Chant: Kaddish

Paul Robeson, bass

Smithsonian Folkways Recordings 2007

Traditional

John Brown’s Body

Paul Robeson, bass

Smithsonian Folkways Recordings 2006

Marc Blitzstein

Regina: ACT 2, Scene 2 – No. 3 – Transition

Scottish Opera Orch & Chorus; John Mauceri, Director; Tommy Krasker, producer.

Decca 433 812-2

Marc Blitzstein

Act 2 Scene 7: Nick “I Speak in English Now“from No for an Answer

No for an Answer Original Cast

Pavilion Records GEMS CD 0009

composer Daniel Bernard Roumain, librettist Marc Bamuthi Joseph

“The Ghosts Keep Calling” from We Shall Not be Moved

Lauren Whitehead & Kirstin Chávez, and the Opera Philadelphia cast and orchestra, conducted by Viswa Subbaraman

promo video – youtube

composer Daniel Bernard Roumain, librettist Marc Bamuthi Joseph

“Love is the only word sweeter than black” from We Shall Not be Moved

Opera Philadelphia cast and orchestra, conducted by Viswa Subbaraman

promo video – youtube

Marc Blitzstein (arr. David Robbins)

The Cradle Will Rock: “Freedom of the Press”

Steven Tyler; Henry Stram; Tim Jerome, singers

RCA Victor 09026-63577-2

Marc Blitzstein (arr. David Robbins)

The Cradle Will Rock: “Art for Art’s Sake” & “Finale”

David Campbell;Steven Tyler;Henry Stram;Tim Jerome;Vicki Clark;Erin Hill;Dan Jenkins;Chris McKinney

RCA Victor 09026-63577-2

Marc Blitzstein

¾ dance

Bennett Lerner, pianist

Etcetera 1986 CD KTC 1019

Kurt Weill & Bertolt Brecht (Blitzstein adaptation), arrangement

Mack the Knife

Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington Orchestra & Jimmy Jones Trio

Eagle Vision ‎– EREDV431

Marc Blitzstein

Regina: ACT 2, Scene 2 – No. 7 – Intro and Gallop

Scottish Opera Orch & Chorus; John Mauceri, Director; Tommy Krasker, producer.

Decca 433 812-2

Charles Ives

They Are There! (A War Song March) (arr. for Concert Band)

US Marine Band

Naxos 8.570559