Worldly Voices of Our Forebearers: The Musical Gifts of American Immigrants

A workshop on musical contributions by immigrants to the United States with Karl Middleman. 

Had enough of America First? Try America Second! Amidst gaping divisions in today’s politics, the diverse music of American immigrants stands as moving testimony to the value of our country’s heterogeneity. What better way to celebrate America’s 250th than to pore over the immense contributions of its adopted musicians so eager to blend their voices into the vast mosaic of American culture. Here is the music of Chinese Americans, Iranian Americans, Latin Americans, and African Americans. We’ll behold composers and performers rising to the challenge of preserving their original voices while assimilating into American life. We’ll consider the ways translocation affected mainstream composers such as Sergei Rachmaninoff, Igor Stravinsky, and Erich Wolfgang Korngold. We’ll learn the inspiring stories of women composers such as Chen Yi and Tania Leon. And finally, we’ll take a sprightly look at popular music in Vaudeville and operetta. Worldly Voices of Our Forebearers celebrates the incalculable and uplifting musical contributions of America’s diverse population. Rare videos and experiential play will heighten your engagement in this inexhaustible topic.