"steer me from that Perilous Shore"

In the first of a two-part series, we'll explore classical music that takes cues from the American vernacular. This week, we'll meander through works inspired by spirituals, folk, bluegrass, country, and blues. Enjoy!

Playlist

  1. Adams: Gnarly Buttons - I. The Perilous Shore by John Adams: Gnarly Buttons & John's Book of Alleged Dances on Michael Collins, London Sinfonietta; John Adams, conductor (Nonesuch) Local
  2. Weeping Mary by Sam Amidon on Bright Sunny South (Nonesuch)
  3. Aaron Copland: Appalachian Spring - I. Very slowly by Aurora Orchestra; Nicholas Collon, conductor on Road Trip (Warner Classics)
  4. Copland: Appalachian Spring - II. Allegro by Aurora Orchestra; Nicholas Collon, conductor on Road Trip (Warner Classics)
  5. Copland: Appalachian Spring - III. Moderato: The Bride and her Intended by Aurora Orchestra; Nicholas Collon, conductor on Road Trip (Warner Classics)
  6. Copland: Appalachian Spring - IV. Fast: The Revivalist and his Flock by Aurora Orchestra; Nicholas Collon, conductor on Road Trip (Warner Classics)
  7. Copland: Appalachian Spring - V. Allegro: Solo dance of the Bride by Aurora Orchestra; Nicholas Collon, conductor on Road Trip (Warner Classics)
  8. Copland: Appalachian Spring - VI. As at first (slowly) by Aurora Orchestra; Nicholas Collon, conductor on Road Trip (Warner Classics)
  9. Copland: Appalachian Spring - VII. Doppio movimento: Variations on a Shaker Hymn (Simple Gifts) by Aurora Orchestra; Nicholas Collon, conductor on Road Trip (Warner Classics)
  10. Copland: Appalachian Spring - VIII. Moderato - Coda by Aurora Orchestra; Nicholas Collon, conductor on Road Trip (Warner Classics)
  11. Price: Fantasie Nègre No. 2 in G Minor by Lara Downes on Florence Price Piano Discoveries (Tritone)
  12. Mama's Cryin' Long by Our Native Daughters on Songs Of Our Native Daughters (Smithsonian Folkways)
  13. Bryce Dessner: Murder Ballades - II. Young Emily by Eighth Blackbird on Filament (Cedille)
  14. Dessner: Murder Ballades - III. Dark Holler by Eighth Blackbird on Filament (Cedille)
  15. Dessner: Murder Ballades - IV. Wave The Sea by Eighth Blackbird on Filament (Cedille)
  16. Dessner: Murder Ballades - V. Brushy Fork by Eighth Blackbird on Filament (Cedille)
  17. Dessner: Murder Ballades - VI. Pretty Polly by Eighth Blackbird on Filament (Cedille)
  18. Dessner: Murder Ballades - VII. Tears For Sister Polly by Eighth Blackbird on Filament (Cedille)
  19. IV. by Jennifer Curtis and Tyshawn Sorey on Invisible Ritual (New Focus/Tundra)
  20. Marsalis: Violin Concerto in D Major - 4. Hootenanny by Nicola Benedetti, Philadelphia Orchestra; Cristian Măcelaru, conductor on Wynton Marsalis: Violin Concerto / Fiddle Dance Suite (Decca)
  21. Go Back To Your Used To Be by Jessie Mae Hemphill on Jessie Mae Hemphill (Bongo Joe/Mississippi)
  22. Dolores White: Blues Dialogues - I. Blues Feeling by Rachel Barton Pine on Blues Dialogues: Music by Black Composers (Cedille)
  23. White: Blues Dialogues - II. Expressive by Rachel Barton Pine on Blues Dialogues: Music by Black Composers (Cedille)
  24. White: Blues Dialogues - III. Fast and Funky by Rachel Barton Pine on Blues Dialogues: Music by Black Composers (Cedille)
  25. White: Blues Dialogues - IV. Moderately Fast by Rachel Barton Pine on Blues Dialogues: Music by Black Composers (Cedille)
  26. Gershwin: Porgy and Bess - Act One, Scene One: Summertime and the livin' is easy by Harolyn Blackwell, Glyndebourne Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra; Sir Simon Rattle, conductor on George Gershwin: Porgy and Bess (The Home of Opera) (Warner Classics)
  27. The American by Tigran Hamasyan on For Gyumri (Nonesuch)