Our Curated Collection #6 celebrates COVID-19 heroes, wishes a happy birthday to Irving Berlin, and makes you want to get up and dance.
Summon the Heroes. The Boston Pops Orchestra, under the direction of former Akronite Keith Lockhart, performs "Summon the Heroes" in tribute to those who are providing critical frontline and essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic. John Williams, who composed the work for the 1996 Olympic Games, joins the virtual tribute with an introduction from his home studio in Los Angeles. Nearly 80 Boston Pops musicians recorded their parts from their own basements, kitchens, living rooms, and bedrooms.
Happy belated birthday to Irving Berlin, born May 11, 1888. With a life spanning more than 100 years and a catalog boasting more than 1,000 songs, Irving Berlin epitomized Jerome Kern's famous maxim that "Irving Berlin has no place in American music — he is American music." In 1907 Berlin published his first song, "Marie From Sunny Italy," and by 1911 he had his first major international hit with "Alexander's Ragtime Band." During the next five decades, Irving Berlin produced an outpouring of songs that defined American popular song for much of the century: "White Christmas," "Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better," "There's No Business Like Show Business," "Puttin' On The Ritz," and "Let's Face The Music And Dance." In a class by itself is his "God Bless America." Here’s a lively recap.
Overcoming distances. In this new video, Cuban music legends (including Tete García Caturla, pictured here) perform “Chan Chan” with musicians from around the world. Playing for Change, a foundation dedicated to breaking down boundaries and overcoming distances through music, created the video with help from Audio-Technica U.S., located right here in Stow, Ohio.
Get up and dance! Be well, friends.