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Sing Out, Mr. President 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.

Sing Out, Mr. President

NPR premieres 16 new songs based on the words of presidents past and present.
Sing Out Mr. President: Barack Obama's 'Hope And Virtue'

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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.

'With Hope And Virtue' by Georgia Stitt

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Sing Out Mr. President: George W. Bush's Populist Simplicity

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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.

'A Simple Oath' by Nora Kroll-Rosenbaum

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Sing Out Mr. President: Bill Clinton's Proverb Of Wrong And Right

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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.

'An Ode', by Zachary Wadsworth

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Sing Out Mr. President: Ronald Reagan's Weapons Of Courage And Freedom

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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.

'Moral Courage' by Jesse Wiener

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Sing Out Mr. President: JFK's Road To Progress

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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.

'Freedom's Road' by Robert Beaser

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Nico Muhly Composes Andrew Jackson's One-Man Majority

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Nico Muhly Composes 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.

Nico Muhly Composes Andrew Jackson's One-Man Majority

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Sing Out Mr. President: Eisenhower's Cold War Strength

Dwight D. Eisenhower became president after an illustrious military career. Wikimedia Commons hide caption

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Sing Out Mr. President: Eisenhower's Cold War Strength

Paul Moravec mixes Revolutionary War music with Cold War sentiment in his setting of words from Ike.

'Eisenhower Round' by Paul Moravec

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Sing Out Mr. President: Harry Truman Takes The Lead

Harry S. Truman was thrust abruptly into the presidency during WWII — and his problems didn't end after the war. Wikimedia Commons hide caption

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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 Mr. President series continues.

'Truman' by David Ludwig

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Sing Out Mr. President: FDR's Fight Against Fear

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Sing Out Mr. President: FDR's Fight Against Fear

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.

'Admonition Of FDR' by Samuel Adler

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Sing Out Mr. President: Woodrow Wilson Releases Democratic Energy

Woodrow Wilson, who led the nation during World War I, was the only president to hold a Ph.D. Hulton Archive/Getty Images hide caption

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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.

'I Believe In Democracy' by Andrew Lippa

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Sing Out, Mr. President: Teddy Roosevelt 'Pulls His Weight'

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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 Sing Out, Mr. President series continues.

'A Theodore Roosevelt Round' by Thomas Cabaniss

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Sing Out Mr. President: Honest Abe, Bullets And Voting Booths

Abraham Lincoln led the country through its most violent internal struggle — and left behind some famous words. Wikimedia Commons hide caption

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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.

'The Ballot Is Stronger Than The Bullet' by Jason Robert Brown

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Sing Out, Mr. President: James Madison's Socratic Sarcasm

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Sing Out, Mr. President: James Madison's Socratic Sarcasm

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.

'Round' by Milton Babbitt

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Sing Out, Mr. President: Thomas Jefferson's Powerful Opinion

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Opinion

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Sing Out, Mr. President: Thomas Jefferson's Powerful Opinion

Sing Out, Mr. President: Thomas Jefferson's Powerful Opinion

'Opinion' by Larry Rosen

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Sing Out, Mr President: John Adams, Bless This House

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Sing Out, Mr President: John Adams, Bless This House

The first White House resident, Adams blessed its halls with words that ring in Jake Heggie's music.

'John Adams' Prayer' by Jake Heggie

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Sing Out, Mr. President: George Washington Down On The Farm

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Sing Out, Mr. President: George Washington Down On The Farm

Hear the first in a month-long series of brand new works based on the words of American presidents.

'Washington Round' by Michael Gilbertson

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Sing Out, Mr. President: NPR Music Premieres New Presidential Songs
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Sing Out, Mr. President: NPR Music Premieres New Presidential Songs

From Washington and Jefferson to Obama and Bush, hear 16 new works based on the words of American presidents by composers Milton Babbitt, Paul Moravec, Jake Heggie, Nico Muhly and a dozen others throughout the month of February.

Sing Out, Mr. President: NPR Music Premieres New Presidential Songs

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