Poster United States Declaration of Independence
United States Declaration of Independence
Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain
Performance Today®

Rhapsody on an anthem

Composer Jessie Montgomery says she's made an attempt to answer the question: "What does an anthem for the 21st century sound like in today's multicultural environment?" On today's show, hear Montgomery's answer, a rhapsody on the Star Spangled Banner.

Episode Playlist

Hour 1

John Williams: Liberty Fanfare
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra; Erich Kunzel, conductor
American Jubilee
Telarc 80144

Kevin Puts: Millennium Canons
University of Georgia Wind Ensemble; John P. Lynch, conductor
Millennium Canons
Naxos 572231

Jessie Montgomery: Banner
String Orchestra featuring Catalyst Quartet; Julian Wachner, conductor
Strum: Music for Strings
Azica 71302

Michael Torke: Unconquered
The Philadelphia Orchestra; Cristian Macelaru, conductor
Unconquered: Michael Torke
Ecstatic Records 92271

Hour 2

Aaron Copland: The Red Pony, Film Suite for Orchestra: Movement 3a & 3b
Dallas Symphony Orchestra; Andrew Litton, conductor
A Copland Profile
Delos 3221

John Mackey: Aurora Awakes
United States Marine Band; Col. Jason K. Fettig, conductor
United States Marine Band, John Jay Senior High School, Hopewell Junction, NY

Aaron Copland: Rodeo, Ballet in One Act: Movements 2-5
Colorado Symphony; Andrew Litton, conductor and honky-tonk pianist
Copland: Billy the Kid, Rodeo, Etc.
Bis 2164

Ross Lee Finney: Fiddle-Doodle-Ad
Noah Geller, violin; Xak Bjerken, piano
Skaneateles Festival, First Presbyterian Church, Skaneateles, NY

Samuel Augustus Ward: America the Beautiful
Jeffrey Kahane, piano
Tippet Rise, LLC, The Olivier Music Barn, Fishtail, MT

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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.

Performance Today® features live concert recordings that can’t be heard anywhere else, highlights from new album releases, and in-studio performances and interviews. Performance Today® is based at the APM studios in St. Paul, Minnesota, but is frequently on the road, with special programs broadcast from festivals and public radio stations around the country. Also, each Wednesday, composer Bruce Adolphe joins host Fred Child for a classical musical game and listener favorite: the Piano Puzzler.

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