Today on PT, special music in honor of a few of our 44 Commanders-in-Chief. The inimitable James Earl Jones reads words by Abraham Lincoln, in Aaron Copland's "Lincoln Portrait." We'll tip our caps to Harry S. Truman, perhaps our most musical president. And hear how Ronald Reagan facilitated pianist Vladimir Feltsman's defection from the former Soviet Union. Plus works inspired by U.S. presidents, from George Washington to Bill Clinton.
Episode Playlist
Hour 1
Morton Gould: American Salute
The Boston Pops, John Williams, conductor
John Philip Sousa: The George Washington Bicentennial March
The United States Marine Band, Colonel Timothy W. Foley, conductor
Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, College Park, Maryland
Michael Gilbertson: Washington Round
Essential Voices USA, Judith Clurman, music director
American Academy of Arts and Letters, New York City
Larry Rosen: Opinion
Essential Voices USA, Judith Clurman, music director
American Academy of Arts and Letters, New York City
John Adams: The Chairman Dances
The Los Angeles Philharmonic, Xian Zhang, conductor
Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13 (Pathetique)
Vladimir Feltsman, piano
Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, West Palm Beach, Florida
Erich Korngold: Kings Row
The National Philharmonic Orchestra, Charles Gerhardt, conductor
Hour 2
John Philip Sousa: Presidential Polonaise
The United States Marine Band, Colonel Timothy W. Foley, conductor
Johann Strauss, Jr.: The Blue Danube Waltz
Earl Wild, piano
Carnegie Hall, New York City
Aaron Copland: Lincoln Portrait
James Earl Jones, narrator, the Seattle Symphony, Gerard Schwarz, conductor
Leonard Bernstein: Fanfare for the Inauguration of J.F.K.
The London Philharmonic Orchestra, Jorge Mester, conductor
Felix Mendelssohn: Two movements from Piano Trio No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 49
Mieczyslaw Horszowski, piano, Alexander Schneider, violin, Pablo Casals, cello
The White House, Washington, D.C.
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American Public Media’s Performance Today® is America’s most popular classical music radio program and a winner of the 2014 Gabriel Award for artistic achievement. The show is broadcast on hundreds of public radio stations across the country, including at 1 p.m. central weekdays on Minnesota Public Radio. More information about our stations can be found at APM Distribution.
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