That’s the name of a variation on “America the Beautiful” that I wrote for Min Kwon’s America/Beautiful project…
But wait…what IS that?
Min commissioned variations from more than 70 composers. I wrote two.
Pause now…to imagine her learning them all.
That’s what I wrote in my newsletter. Adding that Min’s got boundless energy. And that she’s a pleasure to work with!
She’ll unveil her commissions from July 4 to July 9, streaming and live. With my pieces coming July 8, both ways. The live performance is on Andrew Ousley’s “Death of Classical”series at Green-wood Cemetery in New York. Info and tickets here.
And you can read my newsletter here.
About my two variations, a little teaser:
One of them turns “America the Beautiful” into 1950s rock & roll. A doowop ballad, of the kind I danced to in 7th grade. With the lights out! Still the sexiest music I know. (Well, except for Prince’s “Slow Love.” I’ll have to post more on that hot and sultry song.)
The other variation uses fragments of “America the Beautiful” as the backbone of a playful 12-tone piece. Let’s call it another tribute to the 1950s, since (in the new music bubble inside classical music) 12-tone music was big then.
There’s a joke in the rock & roll piece. Midway through, I jack up the key a half step. An old pop song trick, to build a big climax.
But I turn that around. I use the new key to calm the piece down, so it ends very quietly. Almost with the sound of bells, fading into a peaceful dance beat.
More on all this coming!
