William Billings, When Jesus Wept

A simple, somber, one verse piece originally meant to be sung in rounds. I don't know if QXR would have a recording of it - you don't seem to play many American Colonial pieces. I just think it is beautiful and appropriate.

When Jesus Wept (Round)
(William Billings)

When Jesus wept, a falling tear
In mercy flowed beyond all bound
When Jesus groaned, a trembling fear
Seized all the guilty world around,

Karen Proft

Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen

A beautiful, transcendant piece of music.

Rose Smith

G. Mahler 5th Symphony

This was the first time I'd ever heard Mahler's compositons, and am now a true fan. The opening of this piece gives a feeling of a new day, glorious in itself. As the music progresses, you feel the pain that is surrounding the man and will bring you into it, but still with that hope of resurrection.

Madeline Camporeale

America the Beautiful - Lee Greenwood, American Patriot

The first, third and fourth verses of this song - particularly the third and fourth - seem to me to speak directly to the event. The lines "whose alabaster cities gleam, undimmed by human tears" is at once a reminder of better times, and also gives a sense that we will not always be brought down. We will not forget, but we can move on to a better place.
And of course, from the third verse: "O beautiful, for heroes proved, in liberating strife; who more than self, their country loved, and mercy more than life" - that line not only speaks of the bravery of our troops, but also of the rescue workers who on 9/11 worked so hard to save people, and who far too often lost their lives doing so.

Anne

Samuel Barber Adagio for Strings!

It fits the occasion, and it also celebrates his Birth, which has been
overlooked!

Timothy Warner

Barber's Adagio

It evokes the silent scream of the horror and the feeling of hopelessness

Joseph

All Things Must Pass/George Harrison

Helps us deal with the pain of loss.

Manuel Macarrulla

Lux Aeterna by David Adam Smith

This piece was written by a Brooklyn composer for the first anniversary of 9/11. I am a native New Yorker now living in England and this motet to eternal light was sung by my English church choir.

Diane Bergman

/the Honored Dead by John Philip Sousa

I'd like to dedicate this song to all those that died or were hurt in the 911 desaster:troops, police, firemen, workers, EMTs, etc... They all deserve a salute for defending our country. Stars and Stripes forever!

Donna

Leonard Bernstein's On The Waterfront

This music is about hope amidst tragedy
you can hear it in the orchestration

Rob Darnell

Jonathan Elias' "The Prayer Cycle"

From Hearts of Space 21 Sept 2001 PGM 605
Stephen Hill writes, "As we prepare this program, it is one week since the terrorist attacks on the United States of September 11th. America is still mourning its dead, searching its soul, and unsheathing its sword.

If spring is the season of hope, then it is fitting that in the spring of 1999, in celebration of the Millenium, Sony Classical released an album by New York composer JONATHAN ELIAS titled THE PRAYER CYCLE. As we did in 1999, this week we devote the entirety of HEARTS of SPACE to this extraordinary music. But this week, it will sound different, and it will have a different meaning.

JONATHAN ELIAS is best known for his work as a composer of music for television and feature films. But nothing in his resume would have predicted the scope or the depth of this project, which Elias began in the period immediately before the birth of his first child.

For the original broadcast, 10 Sept 1999,PGM 536, Stephen Hill wrote, "a eulogy for the 20th century...a prayer for the 21st" "If spring is the season of hope, then it is fitting that in the spring of 1999, Sony Classical released an album by New York composer JONATHAN ELIAS titled THE PRAYER CYCLE. This week we devote the entirety of this 25th Anniversary retrospective transmission of Hearts of Space to this extraordinary recording, which sums up several of the key artistic directions of the program in classical, world, ambient, electronic and vocal music -- in a single piece.

Jonathan Elias is best known for his work as a composer of music for television commercials and feature films. But nothing in his resume would have hinted at the scope or the depth of this project, which Elias undertook in the period immediately before the birth of his first child. "I was excited by the possibilities for my child," he says, "but I also felt anxiety and sadness about the world she was about to enter. With all the wondrous advances of mankind, it was painful to acknowledge the other defining characteristic of the 20th century, which is more calculated and cold-blooded than any other period of recorded history. Is man's inhumanity to man as common in our nature as other forms of survival? With these thoughts and concerns, I began to write 'The Prayer Cycle.'"

The effect of this brilliant multi-cultural, multi-language production is powerfully moving and very appropriate to the underlying message: "Prayer," says composer Elias, "is what we turn to when the only thing we have left...is hope."

How fitting.

Richard Mitnick

John Denver- Annie's Song

My wife and I got married on September 11, 2001 and this was our wedding song. It is nice to hear something that reminds me of that day and is happy for me, a tragic day, but also a wonderful day for me.

Alex Iler

Make my Garden Grow- from Candide

To me, the very essence of hope and renewal, also means growth. What better way to exemplify this than in this piece that speaks directly to that. I hope it inspires others as it has me.

Ron Konzen

The Sanctus from Gounod's "Messe solennelle de Sainte Cecile" , sung by Barbara Hendricks. (an EMI recording)

This is in memory of my dear friend Joseph. We had such wonderful times together and this particular selection is a tribute to his life.

Horace

Adam & Eve

It would be the perfect piece to play where there was so much pain and destruction. It represents a new beginning laced with hope and growth.

Cynthia Meyers

Dana Fuchs "Moment Away"

It's soulful and sincere

Monica

Barber--Dover Beach

I'd like to hear it at my own funeral

myra spector

Beethoven's 7th Symphony

Deeply moving, 2nd movement communicates a deep sadness but I am always left strengthened.

Marc Sklar

ghosts of love - nohman

I like that this song isn't a jingoistic piece of schlokk. The lyrics are intelligent and try to get inside the head of someone suffering loss from the attacks.

JB

Tool - Schism

Schism came out earlier in 2001 on Tool's album, "Lateralus." I was pumped for a Tool show in Cleveland on Sept 15th, and listening to a lot of them. Thing is, I was going to college on Long Island, but staying with a friend in Cleveland. It was going to be a long drive to get there.

Then 9/11 happened. Instantly, Schism became iconic of 9/11 to me... 2nd verse (but I could quote the whole song): "I know the pieces fit, cause I watched them tumble down. No fault, none to blame, it doesn't mean I don't desire: to point the finger, blame the other; watch the temple topple over; to bring the pieces back together; rediscover communication." The whole song, to me, took on a theme of trying to understand, having urges to be reactionary, but the realization that there is no one reason it happened. And no one side to blame.

(This, as many people were shouting for revenge, etc. I feel like NYC was more hurt than angry, like "they hit my city" hurt... but driving to/from Cleveland... never saw so many little plastic flags flying out of windows - they are much more "patriotic" west of jersey.)

Brian Levine