American music has impressive expressions of mourning. In response to 9-11, John Adams composed his On the Transmigration of Souls at the time.
Charles Ives responded to similar trauma in 1915 with From Hanover Square North... (volume 3 of
Orchestral Set No.2). This CD by pianist Adam Swayne commemorates the 20th "anniversary" of 9/11. Sudden Memorials by Kevin Malone refers to the crash site in
… Pennsylvania where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed. A photo in the booklet shows how the fence around the site became filled with memorabilia. Malone's music also has that eclecticism of objects randomly collected together. Reflections On 9/11 by Karen Walwyn is reminiscent of Ravels piano virtuosity. Fine is Missing Towers by Corigliano, in which the vanished towers are depicted by two equal voices closely following each other. Of course, a ragtime doesn't have to be very fast. Solace by ragtime great Scott Joplin is played very subdued here. In addition, three older pieces by Henry Cowell, with a nice balance between familiarity and experiment. (HJ)more
