Presidents Day. Hopefully you hit the white sales early, so that now you can sit back and enjoy the music. We’ll have works inspired by Washington and Lincoln, with observances of a number of other, musical birthday anniversaries along the way, from 4 to 7 p.m. EST, on WWFM – The Classical Network and at wwfm.org.
Tag: Washington
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Presidents Day Music Unusual Presidential Songs
It’s Presidents’ Day. Before you hit the white sales, I’ve got a couple of musical selections for you.
Here’s a melody called “Lincoln and Liberty” (originally “Rosin the Beau”), a tune Lincoln appropriated for his campaign song in 1860. If you note the pattern on the performer’s pants, you might deduce he is an escaped convict.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Es3J4yxPFiI
This is a concert overture titled “McKonkey’s Ferry (Washington at Trenton)” by Trenton’s own George Antheil. I think you’ll agree, Washington has never sounded so Soviet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dROk2QXrFOs
Which presidents to celebrate, anyway?
Chester A. Arthur, our 21st president, thought “Hail to the Chief” too undignified, so he requested a new piece from John Philip Sousa. The result was the “Presidential Polonaise” (1886):
I wonder if anyone ever thought to write a polka for Polk?
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