Hard Times Come Again No More Inauguration
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In the programme for President William McKinley'southward 1901 inauguration, a writer prophesied the scene of a 21st -century inaugural ceremony. "Nigh a one-half million people had been packed into the great glass-covered arena which fronts the east façade of the new Capitol building," the author foresaw. To entertain them? "Four neat automatic bands were placed in the corners of the space and, operated by buttons, simultaneously rendered a programme of popular music."
In 2009, President Barack Obama'south first inauguration continued the tradition of entertaining inaugural crowds, albeit with live performances instead of musical machines. Musicians including Aretha Franklin, Yo-Yo Ma and two San Francisco children'southward choirs appeared at his swearing-in ceremony and a blockbuster array of artists, including Bono, Bruce Springsteen, and Sheryl Crow, performed in a nationally broadcast concert on inauguration weekend. Poet Elizabeth Anderson read only the fourth poem e'er equanimous for a presidential inauguration.
Music has been part of countdown celebrations from the beginning, when George Washington danced the minuet at his countdown brawl. Its role in the festivities grew as more people flocked to Washington to be role of the upshot.
By the belatedly 1800s, the inauguration had go a multi-twenty-four hours affair with luncheons, balls and concerts. McKinley'southward 1901 schedule of events, for instance, included five official countdown concerts featuring the United states Marine Band and a 500-vox chorus.
At this year'southward ceremony, the band will go on equally the inaugural "house band." Created in 1798 specifically to provide music for the president, the United States Marine Band has played at nearly every ceremony since Thomas Jefferson'southward in 1801. Concert band fare—including marches composed past one-time bandleader John Philip Sousa—was the standard until the early- to mid-20th century, when vocal music became office of the ceremony. Before this time, the only singing was the national anthem by a member of the band.
In 1953 at Dwight D. Eisehhower's inauguration, Dorothy Maynor sang the national anthem and Eugene Conley sang "America the Beautiful," initiating a tradition of featuring classical or opera stars. In a symbolic moment, African-American contralto Marian Anderson sang at Eisenhower's second inauguration and over again at John F. Kennedy's in 1961. Leontyne Price sang for Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965. Ronald Reagan and Pecker Clinton both chose Jessye Norman, and Susan Graham and Denyce Graves sang for George W. Bush in 2005.
In the days before and after the swearing-in, countdown concerts have historically attempted to friction match the grandness of the occasion with an impressive number of musicians. McKinley's 1897 countdown concerts were the get-go to pair choral and band repertoire, and equally the 1901 plan said, "were such a source of enjoyment to the g of visitors in the city" that tradition was continued. The 1901 concerts—featuring "The Famous Republican Glee Club" of Columbus, Ohio, and an inaugural chorus—honored the Army, Navy, Congress, states and people of the United states of america, and were all held in the U.Southward. Pension Edifice (now the National Edifice Museum) so attendees could encounter the brawl décor "on which the sum of $18,000 has been spent." Tickets were available to the public for 50 cents. In addition to a variety of patriotic songs, the inaugural chorus sang Stephen Foster'due south "Hard Times Come No More."
The Philippine Constabulary Band from Manila performed at several of William H. Taft'southward six concerts, which included near 600 voices singing the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's "Messiah." Taft had been Governor General of the Philippines subsequently the United states of america gained control of the islands after the Spanish-American War.
More than recently, the National Symphony Orchestra performed, and radio and Boob tube personalities hosted concerts. Actor Walter Pidgeon hosted Eisenhower'due south 1953 inaugural concert, which featured tenor James Melton and soprano Jeanette MacDonald, known for her musical films. Fred Waring'southward Pennsylvanians sang a special limerick, "Mamie, Nosotros All Love You." Aaron Copland was supposed to be on the plan but was removed because of FBI investigations into his alleged communist associations. Copland later led the NSO in a performance for Jimmy Carter's inauguration, along with Robert Shaw'south Atlanta Symphony and Chorus. Washington Post critic Paul Hume chosen it "the greatest countdown concert in history."
Recent concerts have tapped pop-star talent to mark the occasion, and the Lincoln Memorial has been the venue. Clinton's 1993 "American Reunion" concert drew hundreds of thousands to the National Mall to hear Franklin, Bob Dylan, Diana Ross, Tony Bennett and LL Cool J, amidst others. Performers at George Westward. Bush's first inauguration included Brooks & Dunn and Ricky Martin. Bush-league twins Jenna and Barbara hosted a youth concert in 2005 at the D.C. Armory with headliner Hilary Duff.
This yr, Franklin, the Queen of Soul, will give a costless concert at the Kennedy Centre, Sugariness Honey in the Rock volition give a children's concert and Washington music venues take booked special lineups. The large names will be as varied as the musical genres: rap star Jay-Z will perform at a theater in downtown D.C. and electronica maven Moby will deejay a midnight dance party at a night lodge. Other high-ticket countdown balls volition feature performers including Rihanna and Elvis Costello.
Presidents, concert organizers and musicians have had differing opinions about whether popular or classical music is appropriate for inaugural concerts. In 1961 the manager of the NSO, Howard Mitchell, expressed relief that Kennedy'southward concert would include only "serious classical music," such as Tchaikovsky and Vivaldi. "I remember playing for Mr. [Franklin] Roosevelt," Mitchell told the Washington Mail. "We'd play a number then Mickey Rooney would come out and amuse them."
Reciting poesy at inaugurations is a relatively new addition. Robert Frost delivered the first poem in 1961 for Kennedy, though information technology wasn't the poem he penned for the occasion. On Inauguration Day, the glare from the freshly fallen snowfall blinded him, says Jim Bendat, author of Republic'due south Big Day: The Inauguration of Our President. "I'm not having a good low-cal," the 86-yr-erstwhile Frost said. Vice President Johnson tried to shield the poet'southward optics with his acme chapeau, simply Frost recited the verse form "A Souvenir Outright" instead, telling the crowd he was dedicating it to John Finley, a Harvard scholar colleague of Frost'due south, not John Kennedy.
Iii decades later, Bill Clinton carried on the tradition, inviting poets Maya Angelou in 1993 and Miller Williams, a longtime friend from Arkansas, in 1997. Both Angelou'south "On the Pulse of Morning" and Williams' "Of History and Hope" evoked words and images from the civil rights motion.
This year, Beyoncé will sing the National Anthem at the U.S. Capitol during Obama's swearing-in on January 21. In 2009, she performed at the inauguration concert and sang Etta James' "At Concluding" during an countdown ball. The lineup also includes Kelly Clarkson singing "My Country 'Tis of Thee" and James Taylor singing "America the Cute."
Nevertheless large the crowd for these performances, the audiences this year volition probable outnumber what McKinley's writer predicted.
Source: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/after-an-inauguration-the-stars-come-out-to-play-45735308/
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