BLACK HISTORY MONTH (MARTIN LUTHER KING’S BIRTHDAY)
“An American Cantata” is a composition by Maury Yeston for 2,000 voices and the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Leonard Slatkin. It was commissioned by the Kennedy Center for performance on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial as part of the Millennium Celebration in the Spring of the year 2000.
Composed and orchestrated by Yeston, the piece is a three-movement work that celebrates the achievement of the idea of individual liberty and equality, along with our inherent and universal entitlement to it, and the sanctity of each human life, as our civilization’s single greatest intellectual accomplishment of the past thousand years.
Sung by a Mixed Chorus, Boys Choir, and Gospel Choir; texts include excerpts from the Magna Carta, the writings of Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King Jr.’s final Memphis speech (“I have been to the mountaintop”), and original lyrics by Yeston.
COMPOSER’S NOTE: In the photo above there are about 60 in the band, 200 in the Boys and Girls choir down left, and 200 in the Gospel choir down right. Then behind the band, 800 on the left and 800 on the right … inspired by the antiphonal choirs at St. Marco Venice (Gabrielli etc,). There were about 20,000 in the audience, arrayed down towards the Washington monument. When they commissioned me to write it for 2000 voices I asked if they would want 3000 if it were the year 3000. Of course, they said yes! The use of 2000 voices was a one-time event. The piece may be performed by far fewer voices such as 90 (30+30+15+15). The term “Boys Choir” denotes the desired sound. This may absolutely be a Children’s Choir composed of boys and girls.
ST. PATRICK’S DAY
(NOTE: There is also a Concert Band version available, transcribed by West Point arranger Douglas Richard.)
MEMORIAL DAY
“An American Cantata” is a composition by Maury Yeston for 2,000 voices and the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Leonard Slatkin. It was commissioned by the Kennedy Center for performance on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial as part of the Millennium Celebration in the Spring of the year 2000.
Composed and orchestrated by Yeston, the piece is a three-movement work that celebrates the achievement of the idea of individual liberty and equality, along with our inherent and universal entitlement to it, and the sanctity of each human life, as our civilization’s single greatest intellectual accomplishment of the past thousand years.
Sung by a Mixed Chorus, Boys Choir, and Gospel Choir; texts include excerpts from the Magna Carta, the writings of Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King Jr.’s final Memphis speech (“I have been to the mountaintop”), and original lyrics by Yeston.
COMPOSER’S NOTE: In the photo above there are about 60 in the band, 200 in the Boys and Girls choir down left, and 200 in the Gospel choir down right. Then behind the band, 800 on the left and 800 on the right … inspired by the antiphonal choirs at St. Marco Venice (Gabrielli etc,). There were about 20,000 in the audience, arrayed down towards the Washington monument. When they commissioned me to write it for 2000 voices I asked if they would want 3000 if it were the year 3000. Of course, they said yes! The use of 2000 voices was a one-time event. The piece may be performed by far fewer voices such as 90 (30+30+15+15). The term “Boys Choir” denotes the desired sound. This may absolutely be a Children’s Choir composed of boys and girls.
INDEPENDENCE DAY
“An American Cantata” is a composition by Maury Yeston for 2,000 voices and the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Leonard Slatkin. It was commissioned by the Kennedy Center for performance on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial as part of the Millennium Celebration in the Spring of the year 2000.
Composed and orchestrated by Yeston, the piece is a three-movement work that celebrates the achievement of the idea of individual liberty and equality, along with our inherent and universal entitlement to it, and the sanctity of each human life, as our civilization’s single greatest intellectual accomplishment of the past thousand years.
Sung by a Mixed Chorus, Boys Choir, and Gospel Choir; texts include excerpts from the Magna Carta, the writings of Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King Jr.’s final Memphis speech (“I have been to the mountaintop”), and original lyrics by Yeston.
COMPOSER’S NOTE: In the photo above there are about 60 in the band, 200 in the Boys and Girls choir down left, and 200 in the Gospel choir down right. Then behind the band, 800 on the left and 800 on the right … inspired by the antiphonal choirs at St. Marco Venice (Gabrielli etc,). There were about 20,000 in the audience, arrayed down towards the Washington monument. When they commissioned me to write it for 2000 voices I asked if they would want 3000 if it were the year 3000. Of course, they said yes! The use of 2000 voices was a one-time event. The piece may be performed by far fewer voices such as 90 (30+30+15+15). The term “Boys Choir” denotes the desired sound. This may absolutely be a Children’s Choir composed of boys and girls.
THANKSGIVING
“An American Cantata” is a composition by Maury Yeston for 2,000 voices and the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Leonard Slatkin. It was commissioned by the Kennedy Center for performance on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial as part of the Millennium Celebration in the Spring of the year 2000.
Composed and orchestrated by Yeston, the piece is a three-movement work that celebrates the achievement of the idea of individual liberty and equality, along with our inherent and universal entitlement to it, and the sanctity of each human life, as our civilization’s single greatest intellectual accomplishment of the past thousand years.
Sung by a Mixed Chorus, Boys Choir, and Gospel Choir; texts include excerpts from the Magna Carta, the writings of Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King Jr.’s final Memphis speech (“I have been to the mountaintop”), and original lyrics by Yeston.
COMPOSER’S NOTE: In the photo above there are about 60 in the band, 200 in the Boys and Girls choir down left, and 200 in the Gospel choir down right. Then behind the band, 800 on the left and 800 on the right … inspired by the antiphonal choirs at St. Marco Venice (Gabrielli etc,). There were about 20,000 in the audience, arrayed down towards the Washington monument. When they commissioned me to write it for 2000 voices I asked if they would want 3000 if it were the year 3000. Of course, they said yes! The use of 2000 voices was a one-time event. The piece may be performed by far fewer voices such as 90 (30+30+15+15). The term “Boys Choir” denotes the desired sound. This may absolutely be a Children’s Choir composed of boys and girls.