"When I Die" - Sweet Honey in the Rock 1992 album "in this land" available on Itunes
As a WTC survivor, this is the song i sang as i later made my way home, biking over the bridge (on the bike that saved my life), through the smoke, long after the bridge was officially shut down, it is the song i sang and continue to sing either outloud or in my head as i commute thru WTC and whenever i need my spirit lifted, to appreciate this divine life and to send prayers to those who lost their lives that day. "when i die, set my spirit free, let it fly, say when i die" While it is a mournful song, to me, it is also celebratory and singing it, loudly, strongly, simply feels good. 9/11 woke me up to the fact that life is unpredictable, and it may be short, so is the time to sing.
My second song, if i may, is "om namah shivayah" any version is good. donna delory has a beautiful one on the album "the lover and beloved" and is the version that i also sang as I made my home and to ground me in the surreal months post 9/11. There are many western interpretations of this chant, some others I like are by dave stringer, krishna das (from pilgrim heart album), jai uttal, or right now I am diggin benjy werthheimer versions. There is also a beautiful ravi shankar instrumental on "visions of peace" album, track "east greets east: namah shivayah."
There are many translations of this phrase, for me it is moving past illusion and ego, allowing truth and light and love to shine in and forth. put more simply 'letting my light shine,' living life well and purposefully, again 9/11 was a reminder of how important it is to do so today, not wait until retirement or 'until there is time,' to be happy and share happiness right here, right now for the benefit of self and for others.
Thank you for asking and thank you for the opportunity to share.
Chelsea
Lacrymosa from Britten's "A War Requiem"
It combines the theme of weeping and lamentation over our loss of so many loved ones, and, in the interpolated poem of Wilfred Owen, the them of the pointlessness and futility of the attach. Other movements of "A War Requiem" (e.g., the "Requiem aeternam", "In paradiso" et al.) would also enhance the solemnity of this sad anniversary
Isaac Lambertsen
In America (Greg Tannen)
This is a beautiful and moving song that easily connects with listeners .. well written and performed.
JP
HOWARD SKEMPTON'S: LENTO
It's the only piece of minimalistic music that I enjoy listening to. It has kind of a longing to it. A crying out in despair sense in the music. It would be a fitting piece to go along with Samuel Barber's: Agnus Dei and Ralph Vaughan-Williams: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis.
Much Thanks,
FRED
FRED GARRISON
The Cure from FAITH, "Faith"
"There's nothing left but pain"
Vic
Laurie Anderson from BIG SCIENCE, "O Superman"
(a flashback )
& what happens when Mom is gone...?
Vic
(SILENCE)
Frankly, I am appalled that WQXR would even come up with the notion of playing music to commemorate such a tragedy.(that will forever be etched in my mind).
I, an artist and writer, wrote a poem to it and created a painting -- but, music?
I find the idea crass and insensitive.
Amie Ilva Tatem
"New York, NJ" Copland's "Appalachial Spring," Leonard Bernstien''s "Fancy Free"
This music that I have chosen to be played on your radio station, WQXR represents the best of The United States of America music. I feel that on the anniversary of September 11, 2001 that we should all listen to music that will Unite us all. I chose "New York, New York," since that is the location that the terrible tradegy happened 10 years ago. It also makes one think of New York as a strong city--which most New Yorker's are.
Laura Cobrinik
ghosts of love - by nohman
It's a good song of remembrance.
Manfred
American Tune by Paul Simon
Written in the mid-1970's when the WTC was just opening, set to a quiet minor chord melody by J.S. Bach, some of it's lyrics are a haunting premonition of what was to come:
I don't know a soul who's not been
battered
Don't have a friend who feels at ease
Don't know a dream that's not been
shattered
Or driven to it's knees.
But it's all right, all right,
We've lived so well so long
Still, when I think of the road we're
traveling on,
I wonder what went wrong,
I can't help it
I wonder what went wrong.
And I dreamed I was flying.
I dreamed my soul rose unexpectedly,
And looking back down on me,
Smiled reassuringly,
And I dreamed I was dying.
And far above, my eyes could clearly
see
The Statue of Liberty,
Drifting away to sea
And I dreamed I was flying.
On Sept. 11th, I watched the Towers burn from my office across the street. The souls rising "unexpectedly" remind me of those innocents who died in the Towers or on the planes. Looking down, the would have, of course, seen the Statue of Liberty in the harbour next to the Towers.
For those of us who survived, the closing lyrics are a painful lament. After the horror, we know that, in the end, our future is to be a return to the mundane workaday world, for which we will need to rest before starting the next day over again.
But it's all right, it's all right
You can't be forever blessed
Still, tomorrow's gonna be another
working day
And I'm trying to get some rest,
That's all, I'm trying to get some rest.
Here is a link for the entire song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQbU-irVNFY
DALE A. WILKER
A Million Hearts by Tracy Stark
This is a song I wrote, after the city-wide candlelight vigil. I had never seen such love in the city. Everywhere you went, people gathering, singing, crying, praying, sending love to each other.
It was this palpable love that inspired the song. Here is the link to the song:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/25512238/Originals/12%20A%20Million%20Hearts.mp3
Tracy Stark
music from ALL of the countries from which people who were killed originated. This could be folk, "world," traditional, or by composers of those countries
It means that it isn't a day for looking at the USA as a cultural monolith or a country so besieged that we can play only music by Americans or by "European white men." This is not to say that mozart Requiem mightnot capture the mood of the day for some, but there is much more and certainly time to play an enormous variety of music. Among the international music played would undoubtedly be music from the countries and ethnic backgrounds of the hi-jackers themselves as well as their fellow membwrs in Al Queda. It simply would show, in that moment, that cultures and aesthetic traditions can be quite separate from politics and interpretation of beliefs.
Dr. Jill Vexler
Richard Strauss - Metamorphosen
"Metamorphosen" is music for mourning, but it also has musical messages of hope. It is a very beautiful piece, gentle,and comforting, not lugubrious at all. I did not lose anyone on that dreadful day, but I know people who did. I introduced them to this piece, and I received a call thanking me for it. I hope you will consider it for your programming.
Arden Anderson-Broecking
The Mozart Concerto for Piano and Orchestra Number 23 in A Major, K 488 (Prelude I. Allegro (Chick Corea and Bobby McFerrin
This music brought calm to my soul as I grieved for my city and for my neighbor's son, whom I did not know. I played it until I found peace and understanding.
Sonia Omulepu
"In paradisum" from Requiem by Gabriel Faure
This is the single piece which, to me, is the most evocative of what awaits all of us, no matter what religion or spiritual belief, after our earthly lives are done. Its serenity, simple beauty and elegance provide the best source of soothing and hope for all who listen to it. This magnificent work can provide the peace and calm needed to get through what will be, without doubt, one of the most difficult days for thousands of people.
Laurie Mac Neill Clancy
Benedetto Marcello, Oboe Concerto in C Minor
Maurice Andre on the trumpet, a cd in the car. The first movement, I believe especially is one of the most poignant pieces I've ever heard. As such I think it would be appropriate for September 11th. I had not realized it was originally composed for oboe until I heard it one morning streaming on WQXR while getting ready for work. My husband checked his computer to see what it was. I have been listening to WQXR for over 60 years!!!
Karen Nangle
Faure's Requiem
The whole work is agonizingly sad and beautiful----most especially the soprano solo movement "Pie Jesu", which, to my mind, could be the theme music for the whole day! I visited the cathedral of St. John the Divine four days after 9/11, and as we walked in, this was being played on the organ---incredibly moving, as it has been for me everytime I have heard (and even once, performed in) it.
Harold Zapolsky
the sounds of my city, birdsong...
I, too, am a little disturbed by this "9/11 Theme" project.
I listen to WNYC regularly and almost exclusively in order to avoid the "mediation" of my feelings attempted by so many other media outlets. I myself do not feel the need to participate in any events, official or otherwise, in order to remember and reflect upon that sad and terrible day. But for those who do need or wish to do so, I find this particular bit of crowd sourcing to be an almost crass attempt at inclusion.
That having been said, I know that your collective WNYC heart is in the right place.
Sara
"Give Peace A Chance" by the Plastic Ono Band
the song speaks for itself
John Sassano
"Finding Home" by Betty Buckley
Betty Buckley had the unfortunate luck to release an album on September 11, 2001 -- it's called "Moon And Stars" and "Finding Home" is one of the songs on it. I can't imagine what she went through on that date and how it affected the album. Maybe you could have her as a guest? Her road manager is Terry Gabis, tgaber@aol.com.
C. Lavin
