As you know I like to feature music of struggle and music of politics, and in this topical show I present my musical reflections on today’s inauguration. Bernard Hermann’s creepy score for Fahrenheit 451, about a dictatorship in which books are burned is followed by Leonard Bernstein’s Age of Anxiety. Actually more optimistic than its title would indicate. But then Song of Sorrows by Mary Jane Leach leads into Star Spangled Banner Fractured, performed by myself, and composed by Donal Fox. Freedom of the Press, a cynical song from Marc Blitzstein’s musical “The Cradle Will Rock” closes the show. Good luck, America!

AMERICAN HIGHWAYS EPISODE #72: Inauguration Anxiety

Theme Music :

Steve Reich. The Desert Music (1984)

First Movement (Fast).

Chorus of the Brooklyn Philharmonic, Members of the Brooklyn Philharmonic, Michael Tilson Thomas & William Carlos Williams.

Nonesuch Records 79101

Bernard Hermann

Farenheit 451

Hollywood Inter Orchestra

SK62700

Leonard Bernstein

Symphony #2, “Age Of Anxiety”

1. Prologue

2. Seven Ages

3. Seven Stages

4. Dirge

5. Masque

6. Epilogue

Lukas Foss; Leonard Bernstein: Israel Philharmonic Orchestra

Deutsch Grammophon 415964-2

Mary Jane Leach

Song of Sorrows (1993)

Rooke Chapel Choir; William Payn, conductor

New World Records NWR80525-2

Donal Fox

Star Spangled Banner Fractured

Guy Livingston, piano

live performance at K13, 2008

Wendy Mae Chambers

Snake of Deep Waters (from “12 squared”)

Percussion – Andy Bowman, Dan McMillan, David Cossin, Dominic Donato, Frank Cassara, Jason Cirker, Jimmy Musto, Kory Grossman, Mark Belair, Michael Pugliese, Randy Crafton

NWR 80526-2

Marc Blitzstein, arr D. Robbins

Freedom of the Press, from “The Cradle Will Rock”

Steven Tyler; Henry Stram; Tim Jerome

RCA Victor 09026-63577-2

 

 

‘Trump, A Theatrical Concerto’ by Gene Pritsker

Video by Graham Elliot

 

 

 

Tonight Only!!!

Anti-Inaugural Ball, 20 January, 7-? PM, DiMenna Center, New York City

450 W 37th St, New York, NY 10018, USA

Musicians from across the NYC experimental and jazz community counter cynicism with sound.

On 20 January, all-star musicians from throughout the experimental and jazz communities of NYC will come together for a marathon fundraiser concert/dance party in the acoustically intimate Mary Flagler Cary Hall at the The DiMenna Center for Classical Music. The concert is FREE to attend, and will provide laptop stations for attendees to donate funds for institutions that uphold America’s democracy and diversity including ACLU, LAMBDA Legal, Planned Parenthood, Southern Poverty Law Center, Hollaback!, and more.