Coverage of the Inauguration on Aunt & Sky

[VodkaDilc]

Arguably Charles Ives would not have been considered leftist in his time - but in the context US politics today he certainly would be.

I suppose the same generality could be made about 20th century British composers - with the exception of Elgar.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

(Were there any major 20th century American composers who weren't "leftist" - or who weren't gay?)

I know of at least three: Ives (curious mix of Thoreauesque anarchism and Capitalism in his politics, horribly homophobic); Carter (a Liberal, which is tantamount to "Leftist" in some States); and Babbitt. Extending "composer" from outside the "Western Classical Traditions" bloc: Coltrane at least. Davis? Mingus? (Moving further and further from my "comfort zone", here!)

[Mandryka]

Walton was right-wing.

[Stillhomewardbound]

I keep having to come back to this point with friends. When a president passes between terms he continues as the incumbent, so is not inaugurated, or re-inaugurated, even. Yes, he swears the oath of allegiance again, and until more recent times this has happened in a private ceremony, Ronald Regan being the first such event to be publicised.

This is why there was none of the ballyhoo of the Obama's actual inauguration and why the speaker who was head of the inaugural committee was slightly off the mark when referring to the transfer of our powers, the genius of their system, etc., as a second-term presidency is but a continuation of the first.

[Serial_Apologist]

Walton was right-wing.

Whereas many of the composers contemporary with or older than Britten turned left at around the time that he did - the time of the Spanish Civil War. Some like Bush, most notably, and Rawsthorne, became actual Communists, big C, and afaik remained so for the rest of their lives. Tippett was a Trotskyist for a brief while, up to and possibly including during WW2. Not much seems to have been written about the political leanings of emigre composers such as Reizenstein, Seiber, Gerhard and Wellesz.

On a slightly different topic, one thing that has interested me since joining the old BBC forum 3 years ago is the degree of coalescence between posters of ostensibly left wing and right wing views, as revealed on other non-musical threads here on this forum. I have often considered trying to start a thread on this very topic, but have been at a loss to know how to introduce it, or provide a suitable thread heading. Undoubtedly there are also divergences. Many who come across here as being right wing in their thinking cleave on the other hand towards a populist view that is in general supportive of the direction Radio 3 has taken under RW, possibly persuaded by "commercial logic", that others of their persuasion might, in the name of consistency, have thought more appropriate to the left - "music for the masses", whereas others of either persuasion hold to the earlier standards of Radio 3. As someone of the left, myself, I continue in the probable teeth of evidence to the contrary to find those areas of coalescent thinking around music promising in terms of fruitful dialogue elsewhere.

[Stillhomewardbound]

Well, it's a good premise for a discussion, SA, and I would encourage you to proceed. Best start up a new thread though.

As for myself, I remain devoutly a traditional Labourite and have always believed in the arts and culture for the masses, and all that. However, I can have no truck with spoon feeding and dilution of difficult forms to make them accessible to the masses. That, in my opinion, has not only devalued the currency of culture but has dampened curiosity, indeed, nullified it.

We live in such a materially rich world but the notion of personal enrichment and the feeding of the inner self has all but evaporated.

Prior to the successive raisings of the school leaving age, only a few went on to higher exams and tertiary education. Now, everyone follows that route, but perversely, no one is stretched anymore.

If the model of accessibility and inclusivity worked then the average audiences at the RFH, the Coliseum or the Barbican would represent a paradigm of contemporary society. That clearly is not the case and it has nothing to do with the environment in the world of classical music and suggestions of elitism and middle-class, patrician tendencies.

It does, however, have an awful lot to do with the concept of challenge, if you like.. To quote Sondheim's librettist ... 'Art isn't easy'.

To present it as easy, as I cited earlier, is to devalue the currency. Where now are the extensive range of night classes, debating socities and the choral tradition that were once so prevalent? They're gone, or at least, much diminised and no one engages any more in education other than to acquire a new qualification or credit to put on the CV.

New Labour's mission was supposedly about education, education, education, and getting everyone to university, but can there be any premium to such a qualification when everyone has it. All that has been created is a newly enlarged middle-class.

But back now to broadcasting, politics can never really come into it, no more than into the class room or the lecture hall. If the peak of knowledge and appreciation can be seen as the summit of Everest then how have we arrived at a point of admiring Base Camp as the optimum level to bring everyone to?

[Mandryka]

The presence of someone called 'Beyonce' Knowles, singing the Star-Spangled Banner represented a new low for this ceremony but said rather a lot about the disposable, populist politics that Obama represents.

Anyway: the inauguration of a second-termer is, effectively, his political funeral. As other commentators have noted, all power gradually drains from the President from the beginning of his second term, as eyes turn to the succession and the military-industrial complex begins to ponder who it next wants to do business with.

The Republicans brought in a stupid and short-sighted rule when they decreed (after FDR) that a President could only serve two consecutive terms. If that rule had been overturned (difficult, I know), Clinton would probably still be in the White House today.

[Serial_Apologist]

Well, it's a good premise for a discussion, SA, and I would encourage you to proceed. Best start up a new thread though.

As for myself, I remain devoutly a traditional Labourite and have always believed in the arts and culture for the masses, and all that. However, I can have no truck with spoon feeding and dilution of difficult forms to make them accessible to the masses. That, in my opinion, has not only devalued the currency of culture but has dampened curiosity, indeed, nullified it.

We live in such a materially rich world but the notion of personal enrichment and the feeding of the inner self has all but evaporated.

Prior to the successive raisings of the school leaving age, only a few went on to higher exams and tertiary education. Now, everyone follows that route, but perversely, no one is stretched anymore.

If the model of accessibility and inclusivity worked then the average audiences at the RFH, the Coliseum or the Barbican would represent a paradigm of contemporary society. That clearly is not the case and it has nothing to do with the environment in the world of classical music and suggestions of elitism and middle-class, patrician tendencies.

It does, however, have an awful lot to do with the concept of challenge, if you like.. To quote Sondheim's librettist ... 'Art isn't easy'.

To present it as easy, as I cited earlier, is to devalue the currency. Where now are the extensive range of night classes, debating socities and the choral tradition that were once so prevalent? They're gone, or at least, much diminised and no one engages any more in education other than to acquire a new qualification or credit to put on the CV.

New Labour's mission was supposedly about education, education, education, and getting everyone to university, but can there be any premium to such a qualification when everyone has it. All that has been created is a newly enlarged middle-class.

But back now to broadcasting, politics can never really come into it, no more than into the class room or the lecture hall. If the peak of knowledge and appreciation can be seen as the summit of Everest then how have we arrived at a point of admiring Base Camp as the optimum level to bring everyone to?

Many thanks for the support, SHB, and I agree largely with what you write. I'll have another think about it.

[Estelle]

Stillhomewardbound (Msg. 19),
With respect, although it is true that a re-elected president is an incumbent, an inauguration ceremony is held on the steps of the West Front of the Capitol at the beginning of each new four-year term, regardless. I would guess that the reason is that the inauguration is one of Americans' few excuses for a national (and international) piece of public pageantry. I refer you to a Wikipedia article, "United States Presidential Inauguration," [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_inauguration"[/URL]

As a life-long listener to classical music, I am appalled and embarrassed at the musical performers' renditions of our great patriotic works at this inaugural ceremony. Is it impossible to sing even the National Anthem without all that embellishment? Only the arrangement of the Battle Hymn of the Republic escaped ruination.

What were viewers' reactions to Richard Blanco's reading of his poem "One Today?"

[BBMmk2]

A friend of mine, who plays in American Civil War Bands(amongst other musical activities), was at the 2nd Inaugeration of President ?Geoirge Bush and that was verey cold indeed. No matter how many layers he had on!! Laura Bush muistve appreciated how they were, and gave them a special wave.

[MrGongGong]

The presence of someone called 'Beyonce' Knowles, singing the Star-Spangled Banner represented a new low for this ceremony but said rather a lot about the disposable, populist politics that Obama represents.

Now what was it you were saying before his election ?

I guess it's all going to be rubbish as you rightly pointed out that no-one has ever written anything worth reading in English !

[Quarky]

The presence of someone called 'Beyonce' Knowles, singing the Star-Spangled Banner represented a new low for this ceremony but said rather a lot about the disposable, populist politics that Obama represents.

Anyway: the inauguration of a second-termer is, effectively, his political funeral. As other commentators have noted, all power gradually drains from the President from the beginning of his second term, as eyes turn to the succession and the military-industrial complex begins to ponder who it next wants to do business with.

The Republicans brought in a stupid and short-sighted rule when they decreed (after FDR) that a President could only serve two consecutive terms. If that rule had been overturned (difficult, I know), Clinton would probably still be in the White House today.

There seems to be an assumption in many posts that to sing patriotic songs in public, it has to be in a Classical music setting. It seems to me entirely healthy that songs should be performed in a way such that the majority of the population can relate to them.

Beyonce is an acknowledged patriot, with "history": see excerpt from MTV website:
" Beyoncé sang (and nailed) "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the 2004 Super Bowl in her hometown of Houston, Texas.

What's more American than singing the national anthem at America's most-watched sporting event? Well, perhaps being personally asked by the president to perform at his inauguration. The girl (who runs the world) was asked to sing "At Last" while Barack and Michelle Obama had their first dance as president and first lady of the United States.

Beyoncé recently released a cover of Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A." to benefit the New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund. (Seriously, could she be more awesome?) Having worn the American flag as a dress to get down opposite Lady Gaga in the video for "Telephone," Queen B is the only diva who fulfills all our categories.

When it comes to Beyoncé and America, we could go on and on — she recently repurposed one of her hits for Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" anti-obesity campaign, and in 2001, she performed with Destiny's Child at the United We Stand: What More Can I Give? benefit concert at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. — wearing American-flag pants, we might add. But it's the Fourth of July, and we think a real patriot like B would prefer you get out and celebrate America's 235th birthday"

May be if Estelle really wanted classical music performed at the inauguration ceremony, she should have ensured that the Republican Candidate (whose name I now forget) got elected.

[Mr Pee]

Sporting events...or inaugurations....

[eighthobstruction]

Watching the JFK inaug'....tremendous hectoring warm up act by Cardinal Cushing ....ending with smoke from a smouldering heater in lecturn ....much shuffling around for five minutes as every body gets out of the way and fire dampened....then Robert Frost fluffs his lines in a purpose written poem and has to resite(?) another he knows by heart.....

[Serial_Apologist]

Sporting events...or inaugurations....

It almost resembles an early Stockhausen score!