music
'Some are prayers, some are protests': 76 musicians reimagine America the Beautiful
The iconic song has been given a diverse new set of versions thanks to pianist Min Kwon’s ambitious musical project
TL;DR
- Pianist Min Kwon created "America/Beautiful," a collection of 76 interpretations of the song "America the Beautiful."
- The project aimed to foster community and hope during the Covid-19 lockdowns and amidst social unrest in the US.
- The interpretations vary widely, including pieces described as prayers, protests, dreams, and confessions.
- Composers such as Terry Riley, Nico Muhly, Tyson Davis, and Pamela Z contributed to the project.
- Kwon released the interpretations as a five-CD box set and has performed them in various venues, including a cemetery.
- Collaborations included a duet with Vijay Iyer and a particularly energetic performance of Leila Adu-Gilmore's piece.