This is America: An Anthology
Raise Your Voice
“Perhaps the most comprehensive and original musical reaction to the overlapping series of seismic events that shook America and the world" --All About Jazz
Johnny Gandelsman
Violinist and producer Johnny Gandelsman believes amplifying the works of diverse musicians, past and present, is an essential part of the role of a Classical musician today. In this anthology project, Gandelsman pushes back on Classical music’s historically exclusive trends in a creative and collaborative way, opening the door and intentionally inviting composers from around the country to comment on the challenging period from 2020-2021 through new musical works.
https://johnnygandelsman.bandcamp.com/

Date

March 1, 2022

Grades

6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Music/Music Composition, Social Justice, English Language Arts (ELA), History/Social Studies

Overview

Since 2020, the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic has resulted in isolation, sickness, and economic instability. Racism and police brutality took the lives of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, and Breonna Taylor, among others, sparking the most widespread racial reckoning of our time. Along with a riotous transfer of political power and leadership, these events have impacted us all on a deep, fundamental level over a relatively brief timeframe. Johnny Gandelsman gathers over two dozen American and U.S.-based composers, commissioning them to write new pieces to reflect on an aspect of their experience during the tumultuous year and a half. In addition to playing violin, Gandelsman bravely leaned into playing guitar and singing for this album. Through trusting conversations with the composers, he strives to communicate and capture their reflections and how they desire to share them through music, amplifying diverse voices across the country.

Video: Watch Gandelsman reflect on his creative process throughout the anthology’s creation, inception to release, and hear some works, as well. (6:34)

Artist Bio

Johnny Gandelsman is a Grammy-award winning violinist and producer who lives in New York City. Gandelsman is a founding member of string quartet Brooklyn Rider and a former member of the acclaimed group Silkroad Ensemble. He has worked with several award-winning artists including Bela Fleck, Yo-Yo Ma, Joshua Redman, and Suzanne Vega. He has also appeared with Bono, David Byrne, Renee Fleming, Rhiannon Giddens, I’m With Her, Christian McBride, and others. He has used his strong creative platform to feature a diverse array of contemporary composers in a rich, 4-disc anthology. 

I’ve come to think of this project as…a snapshot in time, documenting a tiny slice of the creative thought and output in this country today. I invite you to stop listening to pundits, extend your ears, open up your imagination, and trust the music to guide you into a challenging, complicated and thrilling sound world – This Is America!”      -Johnny Gandelsman

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