Chicago’s Grant Park Music Festival was founded in the thick of the Great Depression to offer classical music for free in the city’s sprawling lakefront park. Bill traces the history of this exhuberant populist festival. Note: this is a slightly shortened version of the original program – some music selections are awaiting rights clearance and will be added later.
Sweet Home Chicago
Playlist
Episode 1
William Schuman: New England Triptych
Grant Park Orchestra/Lobel
I. Be Glad Then America
II. When Jesus Wept
III. Chester
GPMF 1
17:26
Maurice Ravel: Shéhérazade (excerpts)
Grant Park Orchestra/Kalmar; Larmore, soprano
Cedille Records 104
7:12
Robert Kurka: Symphony #2, Op. 24, III
Grant Park Orchestra/Kalmar
Cedille Records 77
6:35
Grant Park Orchestra/Kalmar
Cedille Records 77
6:35
Robert Kurka: Serenade For Small Orchestra, Op. 25, II
Grant Park Orchestra/Kalmar
Cedille Records 77
4:36
Sweet Home Chicago (excerpt)
Robert Johnson
1:17
Aaron Copland: Down A Country Lane
Grant Park Symphony Orchestra/Lobel
GPMF CD 1
2:58
Michael Colgrass: Snow Walker For Organ & Orchestra
1. Polar Landscape
2. Throat-Singing, With Laughter
3. The Whispering Voices Of The Sky
Grant Park Orchestra/Kalmar; Schrader, org.
Cedille 063
10:56
Episode 2
Frédéric Chopin: Polonaise in A-Flat Major, Heroic (excerpt)
Van Cliburn, piano
RCA 68813
1:49
Bohuslav Martinu: Violin Concerto No. 2, II & III
Grant Park Orchestra/Kalmar; Jennifer Koh, violin
Cedille 89
16:02
Kurt Weill/Ogden Nash: “I’m A Stranger Here Myself”
(From One Touch Of Venus)
Grant Park Orchestra/Lobel; Elizabeth Norman, soprano
GPMF CD 1
3:10
George Gershwin: “Girl Crazy” Overture
Grant Park Symphony Orchestra/Lobel
GPMF CD 1
6:00
Samuel Barber: Andromache’s Farewell
Grant Park Orchestra/Kalmar; Larmore, soprano
Cedille 104
13:13
Kernis: Symphony In Waves, II & IV
Grant Park Orchestra/Kalmar
Cedille 105
6:29
Interview with Carlos Kalmar (excerpt)
:38