Classical Musician chimes-in with Anti-Bush protest composition

classical protest music
Written by Matt Kanner
Friday, 11 April 2008

Roger Rudenstein unveils his latest chamber work

The composition “Hail to the Chief” was first used to announce the entrance of a president during James K. Polk’s inauguration in 1845. More than a century later, it had become the official anthem of the president, playing at high volumes whenever the commander in chief arrived at a public event. But the composition itself is nearly two centuries old. Local classical composer Roger Rudenstein decided it was time to create an anthem appropriate to our current president.

Far from the sounds of glory and triumph that normally herald the president’s approach, Rudenstein’s “Cello and Piano Sonata No. 2” reflects his wholehearted disgust with George W. Bush.

“This piece was composed as a substitute for the ‘Hail to the Chief’ that’s normally played,” Rudenstein said in a recent interview. “I was thinking pretty much of circus music when I composed that.”

The world premiere of Rudenstein’s new work will be performed by the Essex Chamber Music Players on Sunday, April 13, at Northern Essex Community College in Haverhill, Mass. The piece is divided into three movements that sonically illustrate the tragic aftermath of the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

More:
http://www.wirenh.com/Music/Music_-_general/classical_protest_music_200804112863.html



Visit www.rogerrudenstein.com

I wonder if he would allow a transposition? That would make a fun performance.

Stoltzman. Looks like this will be a CD in my collection.

This poem is written by Daniel Thompson, poet Laureate of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA
HAIL TO THE CHIEF
by Daniel Thompson, Poet Laureate of Cuyahoga County, Oh., USA

Hail to the chief
Grief thief.
George the younger
The Florida count wonder
The oil war-monger
With a strike-first thirst
Look! It?s rockets red-glare
Our pockets thread-bare
The bombs bursting in air
Oh! Where?s Osama?s lair
Does Dubya really care
Listen! His nightmare prayer.
Oh daddy in heaven
Like my birth daddy on earth
Let me attack Iraq
Let me bomb Saddam
Let America hear 43rd?s psalm
The warlords thy Shepard
Thou shalt not want
Thy civil liberties up front
The Constitution is only an old scroll of parchment
When the thunder rolls that dog won?t hunt
Tear it up and repeat after me
My country tis of thee
Sweet Homeland Security
To thee I sing
To the FBI
And if they are busy try thy CIA, OK?
?Cause we all be hip
Listening to loose lips
Hungering for the apocalypse
And to those rainy-day prophets who say again
What does it profit a nation
To gain the whole world and lose its own soul
I say, ?Whose side are you on boys,
Which side are you on?
Suicide or genocide?
C?mon boys
You gotta decide,
Suicide,
Or genocide?
C?mon boys you gotta decide.
C?mon boys,
LET?S ROLL!
Tear it up?..two, three, four
Hup?.two, three, four
Hup?two, three, four
Tear it up?
Tear it up?..
Tear it up???.

that is amazing.

:thumbsup: