Grand Central Station by Mary Chapin Carpenter
The story song from the point of view of a construction worker at the site in the days after September 11 and the ghosts at Grand Central trying to go home is heart rending, reminds me of all the cars that were still parked at the local stations late that night.
John
Empire State of Mind by Alicia Keys
While this song was not released until 2009 it is a love song to the City that somehow captures its hard edged but communal spirit. The song of everyone who ever came to New York to make it.
John
Ruby Smith singing
The lyrics of this song envisage a world at peace in which tolerance of others is the rule.
lewis meyers
Copeland's Fanfare for the Common Man
The victims of this senseless and vicious act, from those who showed up for work, were travelling for one reason or another, as well as the valiant firefighters, police and emergency workers were neither celebrity nor high profile officials. They were all everyday common people.
John and Maria Mirabelli
Pie Jesu - Gabriel Faure
Play this in the instrumental version on pipe organ. It is one of the most lovely tributes and is part of a magnificent requiem. Other requiems including Durufle and Luigi Cherubini's Requium in C (written for the memorial services following Beethoven's death) would also be appropriate.
Liz Mathewson
The finale/closing credits for the film "GLORY"
From the first time I saw this film, it galvanized my thinking to what a degree
these soldiers of color enhanced their
self-worth venturing to the unknown, which as viewers know was a bloodbath. It is what I use to purge emotions..and as a man it can be tougher to let that loose.
In a similar vein, the 9/11 attack was
unleashed on innocent Americans, and the
deluge of help from civies, FD,police et.al raised person's emotions to jump
into the fray, knowing the risks they took. It was a modern disaster that in-
deed showed the world the Glory of Americans fighting back becasue they knew lives depended on them. Thanks
James Roe
"Last Train In" by Robert Cinque
It's a very personal look at the aftermath of 9/11, when you didn't see people on the train you used to see every day, and wondered what happened to them...
Shelley Pirre
HORA DECUBITUS by ELVIS COSTELLO
WE SAW ELVIS PERFORM WITH THE MINGUS BIG BAND AT THE BEACON THEATER A FEW WEEKS AFTER 9/11/01, DURING THE SHOW HE MADE A JOKE ABOUT BEING PATRIOTIC, HE ENCOURAGED THE AUDIENCE TO GO DOWNTOWN TO HEAR LIVE MUSIC "TO MAKE OURSELVES FEEL RIGHT". FOR HIS LAST ENCORE, AND THIS WAS AN AMAZING SHOW, HE SPOKE OF WAKING IN LOS ANGELES ON 9/11 TO A PHONE CALL IN THE EARLY MORNING. THE CALL BEARING THE DREADFUL NEWS OF THE ATTACKS. HE SAID THAT AS HE SAT WATCHING THE NEWS ON TELEVISION, HE BECAME ANGRIER AND ANGRIER...THEN HE WROTE THIS SONG, PERFORMED FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT EVENING TO THE MUSIC OF CHARLES MINGUS' "HORA DECUBITUS"...WHICH TRANSLATED FROM LATIN MEANS 'BEFORE BEDTIME'. ELVIS PERFORMED THE SONG WITH UNYIELDING EMOTION, SCREAMING THE LAST LINE "LIFE IS A BEAUTIFUL THING" OVER AND OVER. AFTER THE APPLAUSE OF THOSE WHO HAD JUST SO RECENTLY EXPERIENCED DEVASTATING LOSS, WE, THE AUDIENCE FILED OUT OF THE BEACON IN NEAR SILENCE. I COULDN'T SPEAK FOR MANY MINUTES. THE LOBBY CHATTER WAS SOMBER. WE HAD ALL JUST EXPERIENCED SOMETHING UNIQUELY HEALING. ELVIS HAD REMINDED US ALL...LIFE IS A BEAUTIFUL THING.
HENRY BLUMENKRANZ
Beloved Wife - Natalie Merchant, November - Azure Ray, Fordlandia-Johann Johannsson
Evocative of the day, of loss, sadness and the temporal nature of existence
Ken Levy
Songs My Mother Taught Me by Dvorak
My mother died of cancer in May 2001, just a few months before my wedding in July of that year and then 9/11. Dvorak captures the bitterwseet longing for a mother's love and childhood. 2001 was a year in which I lost my mother and the belief that living in America meant I was safe. I have always connected 9/11 and my mother's passing. Both events rocked my understanding of the world and made it a more frightening place.
Patricia Girgenti
Lonesome Day, You're Missing, The Rising, My City's in Ruins SPRINGSTEEN
"The Rising", Springsteen's album was one of a few artist responses to the horror of that day. Springsteen talks about love, revenge, death ,forgiveness, loss, and most of all the power of what was left-HOPE.
mark Dacey
Amazing Grace on bagpipes
On September 12th my roommates and I awoke to an acrid smell in our 109th Street and 2nd Avenue apartment. We decided to go out for a walk and some fresh air. We went over to Central Park and began to walk south.
As we approached the north end of the Jackie O. Reservoir, we were stuck by the sight of a plume of yellow-gray smoke framing the entire New York City skyline south of the park.
It was then that I recognized the song of a bagpiper under a tree not far from us. It was Amazing Grace.
At that moment I began to realize how much had happened, and how much had changed. The scope of it made my head feel light.
This last Memorial day I heard the Union County Police Pipe and Drums play that same song, and it made we well up with tears.
Every time I hear that song I think of that moment of realization. The thought of how much was given, how much was lost, and how much was taken away still lingers with me.
For that reason I ask that you do me the kindness of not playing that song. The memories with it are all to vivid and painful.
Chip McGowan
Gorecki Symphony No. 3
Henryk Gorecki's "Symphony of Sorrowful Songs" is an incredibly beautiful and moving piece of music that reflects on human suffering while creating space for introspection in a way that only music can do.
fred from brooklyn
September 11th Remembered by Liza Mousios
This piece by Liza Mousios is so beautiful and poignant. It evokes the deep range of emotions around 9/11. You feel the sadness and shock, but the song ultimately is uplifting and so dignified. I love this piece.
Lori Anderson
not echo and the bunneymen
Why are you playing "Killing Moon" as background for your segment soliciting submissions for music to play on 9/11? Isn't that kind of creepy? (It is a great song but wildly inappropriate in this case!)
Anita Yarbery
Coplin Fanfare for the Common man ...followed by Appilachian Spring
The music represents the greatness of America and demonstrates our resourcefulness and perseverance.
Aaron Copland's music is truly American to its core and presents a feeling of inspiration and rebirth(Appalachian Spring). Fanfare for the Common man (which I believe should immediately precede Appalachian Spring.
Fanfare's opening Thunder represents both the tragedy as well as our awakening to rejuvenate our strength and resources.
Reference Recording's CD RR-93CD is available and most likely in your Library. If not I'll FEDEX my copy to you.
Robert L. Feneran 917-922-9111
Robert Feneran
Dream Theater- Live Scenes from New York (album)
I was 16 on 9/11, growing up in NJ suburbs not far from NYC. When we got the bad news and were sent home from school, I tracked down an older friend for a ride to the record store to get this live (recorded n NYC) album, released that day. Nothing was going to stop me from what, at that time, was the center of my universe. I got my hands on the CD which, shockingly, had a picture of an apple on fire (a play on one of the band's logos) with the Manhattan skyline in the flames. That cover was soon recalled, but that did not stop many from obtaining it. I still think of this very strange coincidence at the mention of 9/11.
Jackie
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Over the Rainbow
I would like to hear “Over the Rainbow” as performed by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole.
The song is one of those covers that are as good as or better than the original. No disrespect intended to Ms. Judy Garland. I do not care what the people from “Glee” think.
Kamakawiwo'ole’s take on the lyrics is truly poignant in light of his own premature death. His rendition is truly spiritual, questions the meaning of our lives and expresses the transition between life and death.
The greatest part of his capture of the tune and its myriad of meaning is that, in the end, the song is very upbeat.
I believe it might make the survivors cry but leave them all with a smile.
I have no association with Mr. Kamakawiwo'ole, his family or his former record company and have no personal stake in the song. I lived at 81 Warren Street on the day of this tragedy.
I saw the first plane hit the North Tower with my own eyes and did not leave until just before Building Number Seven came down. I suffered no great personal loss and knew only one person who died that day. His name was Captain Patrick J. Brown (FDNY/EMT). When he was younger, Patrick played guitar and actually did Hawaiian Music rather well for an Irish Man. His father, John Brown, a former FBI Agent, was never the same after his son passed. He died without Michael being there.
Both of them were very good people and good to me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1bFr2SWP1I
Israel "IZ" Ka’ano’i Kamakawiwo’ole (May 20, 1959 – June 26, 1997) was a Hawaiian musician.
Rob Ernst
