This playlist comes out the week of the 2024 presidential inauguration in the United States. I find it (almost) funny I was not able to find a platform to combine the works I wanted to include. I chose works that, to me, represent my current feelings and reactions around the onslaught of regressive policies currently being hurled at the American public.

If this is your first playlist with me, I usually put together a playlist on Spotify and YouTube, then link where to buy albums and artist’s websites on this blog. If I’m not able to find everything on YouTube, I’ve used Mixider to bring tracks from YouTube and Soundcloud together. Please enjoy this audio charcuterie board and remember to drink water.

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1. Divided by Jessie Montgomery performed by Sphinx Virtuosi. Album: Songs for our Times. “Divided for solo cello and orchestra is a response to the social and political unrest that has plagued our generation in the recent past. Specifically, the sense of helplessness that people seem to feel amidst a world of that seems to be in constant crisis, whether it is over racial injustice, sexual or religious discrimination, greed and poverty, or climate change.” In a world that is so fast-paced, where all of these desperate realities have been unveiled by the internet with constant visual bombardment to the human psyche, how do we regain control and find beauty among the chaos? How can we stack good actions over the negative reactions that easily emerge out of conflict? The cello is a voice crying out to be heard, in chorus with a few, passionate and unrelenting, with the orchestra performing a gritty accompaniment.” -Jessie Montgomery, 2020

2. I saw the land break in half by Briggs Kennedy (track uses my old name) performed by Colin Frank, Justin Greene, Kristian Podlacha. Album: WRCMS 2017. I wrote this work in 2017 as a response to this article, specifically the imagines accompanying the article. It seemed fitting after the 2016 presidential election and the obvious growing rift in our country. I recommend turning the volume up for this track.

Image credit: NASA/GSFC/LaRC/JPL, MISR Team

3. All we could see from the window was water by Alex Temple performed by William Lang and Anne Rainwater. “In 2018, Jen Wang put together a project in which people could commission short pieces by donating to RAICES, an immigrant and refugee advocacy organization. Trombonist William Lang‘s contribution led to the birth of All we could see from the window was water, which I wrote for him and pianist Anne Rainwater.”

4. On the limits of a system and the consequences of my decisions by Ryan Carter performed by Keith Kirchoff. Album: Ryan Carter: Chamber Works. I couldn’t find any notes from the composer for this piece, so here is some info on Ryan “Ryan Carter composes music that explores and critically examines new possibilities presented by emerging technologies. Described by the New York Times as “imaginative … like, say, a Martian dance party,” Ryan’s music has been commissioned by Carnegie Hall, the MATA Festival, the National Flute Association, and many individuals and ensembles.”

5. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! by Frederic Rzewski performed by Michael Noble. Album: American Dissident. The LA Phil has a great background on this work, you can read it here. The original song was written by Chillean composer Sergio Ortega (1938-2003). ¡El pueblo unido, jamás será vencido! is a protest song, and continues to provide the same role today.