This weekend, the United States celebrates the 200th birthday of its 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, and the 277th birthday of its 1st President, George Washington. To commemorate these men, classical music fans have a few choices of music to investigate.
Aaron Copland's Lincoln's Portrait
Urged during World War II to write a composition that would encourage Americans during a crisis, Copland chose to look backwards towards the man who had brought his country through previous bitter conflict. The resulting musical portrait was a thirteen and half minute tribute to Abraham Lincoln.
Like the grandiose statue overlooking the National Mall in D.C., the composition depicts a man who seems to tower over American history. Through narrated biographical snippets and quotations from Lincoln's speeches combined with magisterial horns and drums, Copland transports listeners to a semi-mythical past. Reverent winds create a hushed awe that in turn leads to snatches of the popular tunes "Camptown Races" and "Springfield Mountain," played on the joyful flutes and snares associated with Yankee Doodle's army.
The selected texts urge audiences to acknowledge the gravity of the times and to "rise with the occasion." As in many of his other works, Copland succeeds in creating an identity of optimism and achievement for his country, reinforcing the sounds of "Americana."
George Washington: Music for the First President
George Washington: Music for the First President is a 1999 album released by early American music performers David and Ginger Hildebrand. This husband and wife team specializes in research and performance of music from the Colonial and Federalist years of early American history.
Featuring composers such as Francis Hopkinson, Henry Carey and Pierre L. Duport, the album presents music associated with George Washington in some way, whether it was a tune composed in his honor, or one he danced to, enjoyed at Mount Vernon, or attended in concert.
Instruments: harpsichord, violin, baroque and English guitars, hammered dulcimer, recorder and voices.
Track List
- White Cockade
- A Toast (by Francis Hopkinson)
- There Was a Jolly Miller/Sweet Richard
- General Washington
- Of All the Simple Things/Durang's Hornpipe
- The Death of General Wolfe
- He Comes, the Hero Comes!
- The President's March
- The Drum
- Fancy Minuet (danced before General Washington, 1792)/Mount Vernon
- Lady Washington
- Good Morrow to Your Night Cap
- Funeral Dirge
- Stony Point/March to Boston
- A Minuet By the Reverend Mr. Bacon
- Orpheus and Euridice
- Lord Howe's Jig/Jefferson and Liberty
- Funeral Dirge on the Death of General Washington
Sources
Child, Fred. "Abraham Lincoln: A Portrait in Music and Words." February 12, 2009. NPR Music.
Colonial Music Institute website.
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