Sing Out, Mr. President http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=133592676&ft=1&f=133592676 In collaboration with conductor Judith Clurman and 16 hand-picked composers, NPR premieres new songs based on the words of 16 presidents, past and present. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Mon, 28 Feb 2011 10:20:00 -0500 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Sing Out, Mr. President http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=133592676&ft=1&f=133592676 Sing Out Mr. President: Barack Obama's 'Hope And Virtue' Composer Georgia Stitt set words by Barack Obama to music, drawing inspiration from both his inaugural speech and his campaign chant, in this final installment of the Mr President series. Mon, 28 Feb 2011 10:20:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/02/28/134054549/sing-out-mr-president-barack-obamas-hope-and-virtue?ft=1&f=133592676 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/02/28/134054549/sing-out-mr-president-barack-obamas-hope-and-virtue?ft=1&f=133592676 Composer Georgia Stitt set words by Barack Obama to music, drawing inspiration from both his inaugural speech and his campaign chant, in this final installment of the Mr President series.

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]]> Sing Out Mr. President: George W. Bush's Populist Simplicity Bush's presidency was defined by 9/11, but the man himself was known more for his image as a plain-spoken Southerner, which comes through in music by Nora Kroll-Rosenbaum. Fri, 25 Feb 2011 09:54:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/02/28/134024533/sing-out-mr-president-george-w-bushs-populist-simplicity?ft=1&f=133592676 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/02/28/134024533/sing-out-mr-president-george-w-bushs-populist-simplicity?ft=1&f=133592676 Bush's presidency was defined by 9/11, but the man himself was known more for his image as a plain-spoken Southerner, which comes through in music by Nora Kroll-Rosenbaum.

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]]> Sing Out Mr. President: Bill Clinton's Proverb Of Wrong And Right William Jefferson Clinton felt that right and wrong in America could eventually balance out. His words on the subject sounded like a proverb to composer Zachary Wadsworth, who set them to music. Thu, 24 Feb 2011 10:14:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/02/28/133973258/sing-out-mr-president-bill-clintons-proverb-of-wrong-and-right?ft=1&f=133592676 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/02/28/133973258/sing-out-mr-president-bill-clintons-proverb-of-wrong-and-right?ft=1&f=133592676 William Jefferson Clinton felt that right and wrong in America could eventually balance out. His words on the subject sounded like a proverb to composer Zachary Wadsworth, who set them to music.

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]]> Sing Out Mr. President: Ronald Reagan's Weapons Of Courage And Freedom Ronald Reagan's words on peace and power convey a universal message to composer Jesse Wiener, who didn't stop composing until the music sounded just right to him. Wed, 23 Feb 2011 09:27:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/02/28/133845525/sing-out-mr-president-ronald-reagans-weapons-of-courage-and-freedom?ft=1&f=133592676 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/02/28/133845525/sing-out-mr-president-ronald-reagans-weapons-of-courage-and-freedom?ft=1&f=133592676 Ronald Reagan's words on peace and power convey a universal message to composer Jesse Wiener, who didn't stop composing until the music sounded just right to him.

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]]> Sing Out Mr. President: JFK's Road To Progress According to John F. Kennedy, the best path to accomplishment is "freedom's road." Hear JFK's admonition of progress set to the gospel-inflected music by celebrated composer Robert Beaser. Tue, 22 Feb 2011 10:22:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/02/28/133814979/sing-out-mr-president-jfks-road-to-progress?ft=1&f=133592676 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/02/28/133814979/sing-out-mr-president-jfks-road-to-progress?ft=1&f=133592676 According to John F. Kennedy, the best path to accomplishment is "freedom's road." Hear JFK's admonition of progress set to the gospel-inflected music by celebrated composer Robert Beaser.

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]]> Sing Out, Mr President: Andrew Jackson's One-Man Majority Composer Nico Muhly is at work on an opera for the Met. Here he makes music with seven words from our seventh president. Sun, 20 Feb 2011 03:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/02/21/133843232/sing-out-mr-president-andrew-jacksons-one-man-majority?ft=1&f=133592676 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/02/21/133843232/sing-out-mr-president-andrew-jacksons-one-man-majority?ft=1&f=133592676 Composer Nico Muhly is at work on an opera for the Met. Here he makes music with seven words from our seventh president.

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]]> Sing Out Mr. President: Eisenhower's Cold War Strength Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Paul Moravec mixes Revolutionary War music with Cold War sentiment in his setting of words from Dwight D. Eisenhower, as our Mr. President series continues. Fri, 18 Feb 2011 10:28:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/02/22/133787143/sing-out-mr-president-eisenhowers-cold-war-strength?ft=1&f=133592676 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/02/22/133787143/sing-out-mr-president-eisenhowers-cold-war-strength?ft=1&f=133592676 Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Paul Moravec mixes Revolutionary War music with Cold War sentiment in his setting of words from Dwight D. Eisenhower, as our Mr. President series continues.

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]]> Sing Out Mr. President: Harry Truman Takes The Lead Our 33rd president felt the full weight of the presidency thrust upon him when FDR suddenly died. Hear his words about leadership set to music by award-winning composer David Ludwig, as our <em>Mr. President</em> series continues. Thu, 17 Feb 2011 09:27:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/02/20/133755317/sing-out-mr-president-harry-truman-takes-the-lead?ft=1&f=133592676 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/02/20/133755317/sing-out-mr-president-harry-truman-takes-the-lead?ft=1&f=133592676 Our 33rd president felt the full weight of the presidency thrust upon him when FDR suddenly died. Hear his words about leadership set to music by award-winning composer David Ludwig, as our Mr. President series continues.

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]]> Sing Out Mr. President: FDR's Fight Against Fear Our <em>Mr. President</em> series continues with one of the most acknowledged presidential quotes of all time. Hear how composer Samuel Adler transforms Franklin Delano Roosevelt's iconic words into a new song. Wed, 16 Feb 2011 10:25:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/02/14/133750759/sing-out-mr-president-fdrs-fight-against-fear?ft=1&f=133592676 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/02/14/133750759/sing-out-mr-president-fdrs-fight-against-fear?ft=1&f=133592676 Our Mr. President series continues with one of the most acknowledged presidential quotes of all time. Hear how composer Samuel Adler transforms Franklin Delano Roosevelt's iconic words into a new song.

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]]> Sing Out Mr. President: Woodrow Wilson Releases Democratic Energy The president's firm belief in democracy rings true in a new song by Broadway composer Andrew Lippa, as our <em>Mr. President</em> series continues. Hear a performance of the song and the composer talking about his music. Tue, 15 Feb 2011 09:08:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/02/20/133601147/sing-out-mr-president-woodrow-wilson-releases-democratic-energy?ft=1&f=133592676 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/02/20/133601147/sing-out-mr-president-woodrow-wilson-releases-democratic-energy?ft=1&f=133592676 The president's firm belief in democracy rings true in a new song by Broadway composer Andrew Lippa, as our Mr. President series continues. Hear a performance of the song and the composer talking about his music.

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]]> Sing Out, Mr. President: Teddy Roosevelt 'Pulls His Weight' As the embodiment of what he called "the strenuous life of toil and effort," Theodore Roosevelt felt all Americans should pull their own weight. Hear his words ring out strong in a new piece, as the <em>Sing Out, Mr. President</em> series continues. Mon, 14 Feb 2011 11:10:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/02/20/133600959/sing-out-mr-president-teddy-roosevelt-pulls-his-weight?ft=1&f=133592676 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/02/20/133600959/sing-out-mr-president-teddy-roosevelt-pulls-his-weight?ft=1&f=133592676 As the embodiment of what he called "the strenuous life of toil and effort," Theodore Roosevelt felt all Americans should pull their own weight. Hear his words ring out strong in a new piece, as the Sing Out, Mr. President series continues.

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]]> Sing Out Mr. President: Honest Abe, Bullets And Voting Booths Hear Broadway composer Jason Robert Brown's dramatic song based on a portentous Lincoln phrase. He calls it a snapshot of America that illustrates the power of the voting over shooting. Fri, 11 Feb 2011 10:09:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/02/20/133594257/sing-out-mr-president-honest-abe-bullets-and-voting-booths?ft=1&f=133592676 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/02/20/133594257/sing-out-mr-president-honest-abe-bullets-and-voting-booths?ft=1&f=133592676 Hear Broadway composer Jason Robert Brown's dramatic song based on a portentous Lincoln phrase. He calls it a snapshot of America that illustrates the power of the voting over shooting.

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]]> Sing Out, Mr. President: James Madison's Socratic Sarcasm Hear the late Milton Babbitt's contribution to the <em>Mr. President</em> cycle, with words from Madison's Federalist Papers. There's a hint of sarcasm in the text, and sheer beauty in the music. Thu, 10 Feb 2011 09:14:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/02/20/133570552/sing-out-mr-president-james-madisons-socratic-sarcasm?ft=1&f=133592676 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/02/20/133570552/sing-out-mr-president-james-madisons-socratic-sarcasm?ft=1&f=133592676 Hear the late Milton Babbitt's contribution to the Mr. President cycle, with words from Madison's Federalist Papers. There's a hint of sarcasm in the text, and sheer beauty in the music.

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]]> Sing Out, Mr. President: Thomas Jefferson's Powerful Opinion Sing Out, Mr. President: Thomas Jefferson's Powerful Opinion Wed, 09 Feb 2011 10:32:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/02/20/133505315/sing-out-mr-president-thomas-jeffersons-powerful-opinion?ft=1&f=133592676 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/02/20/133505315/sing-out-mr-president-thomas-jeffersons-powerful-opinion?ft=1&f=133592676 Sing Out, Mr. President: Thomas Jefferson's Powerful Opinion

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]]> Sing Out, Mr President: John Adams, Bless This House We continue our Presidents series with music by Jake Heggie.The first president to inhabit the White House, John Adams, on his second night in the new mansion, delivered a blessing to its halls that resonates throughout history and in Jake Heggie's musical setting of the famous quote. Tue, 08 Feb 2011 11:02:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/02/20/133504406/sing-out-mr-president-john-adams-bless-this-house?ft=1&f=133592676 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/02/20/133504406/sing-out-mr-president-john-adams-bless-this-house?ft=1&f=133592676 We continue our Presidents series with music by Jake Heggie.The first president to inhabit the White House, John Adams, on his second night in the new mansion, delivered a blessing to its halls that resonates throughout history and in Jake Heggie's musical setting of the famous quote.

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