From Ann Gregg, a producer, program designer, educator and musician I recently saw Hadestown and was blown away by the end of the first half. The musical is about a Greek tragedy and though set thousands of years ago has a song, “The Wall”, with lyrics that ring true now. Composed by Anaïs Mitchell, it has a lyric […]
Read MoreFrom Tim Coffey, Caramoor’s Artistic Planning Manager It’s winter on the east coast so naturally I’m thinking about a warm sunny day at the beach. And who better to put me in the mood — The Beach Boys. To be honest though, I’ve been on a beach boys kick for about a year now. Growing […]
Read MoreFrom Kathy Schuman, Caramoor’s VP, Artistic Planning and Executive Producer As we prepare to celebrate Stephen Sondheim’s 90th birthday, my thoughts turned to this hilarious song I first heard in a student revue back in college. Written by Mary Rodgers, with lyrics by Sondheim, this lesser-known 1966 song was meant to be a send up of […]
Read MoreFrom Caramoor’s Senior Artistic Planning Manager, Ellie Gisler Murphy The English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams was known to be deeply intellectual and progressive — a man moved by Shakespeare, and inspired by humanists like Walt Whitman. Well into his career, Europe was thrust into a horrific war and in 1916, Vaughan Williams volunteered for the […]
Read MoreComing from an Irish family, my earliest memories of hearing live music came from family parties. The ‘adults’ would each take turns singing a song a cappalla in the circle in the living room. And my great grandma – Nana Nana – somehow knew every song. I remember thinking “how could she know all of these songs. Some of them weren’t even in English?” I was fascinated.
Read MoreA close friend of mine hosts lively dinner parties mixing exotic foods, unlikely pairings of people, and free flowing spirits. These convivial gatherings last late into the night, fueled by many elements including far reaching conversations. One night following a poignant memorial service, while ruminating on the musical choices of the service, we delved into the songs we’d want sung at our memorials.
Read MoreThough it ran on Broadway for more than 4 years and was a commercial success, I’ve never met anyone else who saw The Magic Show, a Broadway musical from the 1970s starring magician Doug Henning. My mother took me to see it when I was 12-years-old, and the main thing I remember is that it included a song about WEST END AVENUE—the street I lived on!
Read MoreThis song came to prominence in my own life early in my pregnancy when we were still in those first uncertain twelve weeks when losing a pregnancy is common. The words “I know you haven’t made your mind up yet, but I will never do you wrong” still have the ability to bring me to tears.
Read MoreI grew up in a household full of music. Both my parents are talented amateur musicians and
compulsive singers – you have to find yourself taking care to not say any sing-able phrase aloud
lest the whole family breaks into song mid conversation – even a cheerful “Good Morning” will
either give you Garland and Rooney or, perhaps more often from my flower child mother, “Good
Morning Starshine” from Hair.
Many songs from the American Roots realm (folk, blues, bluegrass, country, gospel, cajun, string band, traditional, and more genres) are cultural touchstones, songs that just about everyone knows. Songs like “Blowin’ In the Wind”, “Stand By Your Man”, “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands”. But there are hundreds, if not thousands, of lesser known songs being sung in local song circles, small coffee houses, regional festivals that, if given the opportunity, would also find their way into the canon of songs with the power to touch and move any listener.
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