African-American composer Jessie Montgomery was asked to write music inspired by her feelings about her identity as an American. Montgomery realized that spirituals are "...a significant part of the DNA of black folk music, and subsequently most (arguably all) American pop music forms that have developed to the present day." On today's show, we'll hear a piece grounded in spirituals: Source Code, by Jessie Montgomery.
Episode Playlist
Hour 1
Kevin Day: Cello Sonata No.1 movement 3: Giocoso
Michelle Cann, piano | Thomas Mesa, cello
Album: Our Stories: Contemporary Works by Black and Latinx Composers
Navona 6571
Jessie Montgomery: Source Code
Helen Chang Haertzen, violin | Sophia Mockler, violin | Gareth Zehngut, viola | Erik Wheeler, cello
Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis, MN
Clarence Cameron White: Levee Dance Op. 6, No. 2
Simin Ganatra, violin | John Novacek, piano
Music in the Vineyards Festival, Silverado Vineyards, Napa, CA
Erno Dohnanyi: Piano Quintet No. 1 in C minor, Op. 1
Michelle Cann, piano | Eliot Heaton, violin | Geoffrey Herd, violin | Eric Wong, viola | Max Geissler, cello
Geneva Music Festival, Smith Opera House, Geneva, NY
Hour 2
Cesar Franck: Violin Sonata in A: Movement 1 Allegretto ben moderato
Lara St. John, violin | Matt Herskowitz, piano
Album: Key of A: Beethoven Sonata #9 | Franck Sonata
Ancalagon
Cesar Franck: Piano Quintet in F minor: Movements 2-3
David Coucheron, violin | Helen Hwaya Kim, violin | Catherine Lynn, viola | Brad Ritchie, cello | Elizabeth Pridgen, piano
Atlanta Chamber Players, Ahavath Achim Synagogue, Atlanta, GA
William Grant Still: Three Visions Suite
Andrew Armstrong, piano
Seattle Chamber Music Society, SCMS Center for Chamber Music, Seattle, WA
George Enescu: Octet in C-Major for Strings, Op. 7: Movements 1-2
West-Eastern Divan Ensemble
University of Georgia Performing Arts Center, Hodgson Concert Hall, Athens, GA
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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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