Choral Music in the White House DONALD TROTT
or more than two hundred years, music in the White House has refl ected the sounds of America, providingF ceremonial backdrop and adding fl ourish to visits by heads of state, serving as a showcase for the performing arts, and always refl ecting the personal tastes of the fi rst families who have lived there. Since the United States Marine Band, known as “The President s Own,” performed on New Year s Day 1801, the White House halls have echoed with the sound of music built into its walls from the beginning.1 Music of all types has graced the various spaces in the White House and on the immediate grounds. According to former First Lady Barbara Bush,
One of the great privileges of living in the White House is meeting the best and the brightest America has to offer…especially in the fi eld of music. So many great performers have brought their magic here. All of these musicians have greatly enriched life here at the White House and have been wonderfully representative of all that our American culture has to offer.2
Choral performances have taken place in many of the administrations since the early 1800s. The White House is a living museum and a stage for presenting the best in American art. The important work of our nation unfolds in this mansion, and so does the culture through various performances, exhibits and presentations.
8 CHORAL JOURNAL Volume 52 Number 11 The Dayton Westminster Choir, John Finley Williamson director, at the White House, November 18, 1925.
The Westminster Choir at the White House, December 14, 1965, with President Johnson and the President of Pakistan, Ayub Khan
Donald Trott is director of choral activities at the University of Mississippi. He holds a BME from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, an MM and DMA in choral conducting from the University of Oklahoma
CHORAL JOURNAL Volume 52 Number 11 9 Choral Music in the White House
Hundreds of choirs have experienced fl aming javelins into the White House. The as Death of Washington,Happiest Time is Now, the unique opportunity of performing in the Executive Mansion’s interior was completely Is There No Comfort for the Sorrowing Heart, White House. In recent decades, most choirs destroyed, only the exterior walls remained. and The Mountaineer’s Farewell.8 performed in the East Room, which often is Dolly Madison was able to save the famous the location for special events and concerts. 1797 Gilbert Stuart painting of George Several administrations have invited choirs Washington and a few pieces of furniture. to sing seasonal music as tourists view the The White House did not reopen until 1817. 1850 – 1900 beautiful decorations during the holiday On March 4, 1841, William Henry Harrison Millard Fillmore (1850–1853) became season. The opportunity to sing in the White (1841) was inaugurated and one month President upon the death of Zachary Taylor House is an occasion to stand in the midst later he died. (July 9, 1850). Abigail and Millard Fillmore of history. The fi rst group vocal performance on were music lovers and entertained the record occurred during President John Tyler, leading performers of the day, including Jr’s (1841–1845) administration when on Jenny Lind. Franklin Pierce (1853–1857) 1800 – 1850 January 30, 1844, a performance by The has little record of social events in general, Hutchinson Family, also known as “Tribe of perhaps due to the fact that their only son A chronological look at choral perfor- Jesse,” took place. This was a group of four Benny was killed in a railroad accident just mances in the White House begins with singers from New Hampshire that, over weeks prior to Franklin Pierce’s inauguration. a look at historical events. On November a span of years, sang for seven Presidents. During President James Buchanan’s (1857– 1,1800, the family of John Adams (1797– The ensemble consisted at different times 1861) administration, William Bradbury 1801) was the fi rst to occupy the White of various combinations of the children of (1816– 1 8 68), a music educator, conducted House. With only four months in the man- one Jesse Hutchinson, a farmer from Mil- a Handel oratorio with a well-trained choir sion prior to the inauguration of Thomas ford, New Hampshire, and his wife Mary. in the White House on April 30, 1859. Brad- Jefferson (1801–1809), the opportunity The Hutchinsons became highly respected bury was a student of Lowell Mason and was not ample for any type of performance. performers, and much of their music focused famous for his hymn compositions, including But, before coming to the White House, on idealism, social reform, equal rights, moral Jesus Loves Me. He had a forty-year associa- Abigail Adams, in a letter dated September improvement, community activism, and pa- tion with the White House.9 Abraham Lin- 2, 1785 to her sister Mary Cranch, described triotism. In addition, they often sang about coln (1861–1865) could not read music or a performance of Messiah she attended at rural life and social issues such as abolition, play an instrument, but he was very moved Westminster Abbey stating, temperance, politics, war, and women’s by music and found it important to the soul. suffrage. The career of the Hutchinsons Music in song during the Civil War was am- The most powerful effect of music I spanned the major social and political events ple and spoke to all, because the texts were ever experienced…. It is impossible of the mid-nineteenth century, including the to describe to you the solemnity and about the contemporary struggle. Lincoln Civil War.5 The program included The Land dignity of the scene. When it came to knew this music well and heard it often in of Washington, Happy and Free, A Little Farm that part, the ‘Hallelujah,’ the whole Washington. He enjoyed opera, especially his Well Tilled, The Origin of Yankee Doodle, and favorite chorus, the “Soldiers’ Chorus” from assembly rose, and all the musicians 6 and instruments perfectly chording concluded with The Old Granite State. Two Faust. On January 7, 1862, the Hutchinson one word and one sound. I could songs they often performed and popular- Family entertained the Lincolns singing The scarcely believe myself an inhabitant ized were Battle Cry of Freedom and Tenting War Drums are Beating, Up, Soldiers, and Fight, 7 of the earth. I was one, continued Tonight on the Old Camp Ground. President and Ship on Fire.10 On July 4, 1864, George shudder from the beginning to the Tyler, the father of fi fteen children, was a Root’s Battle Cry of Freedom was bellowed end of the performance.3 violinist and even dabbled in composition. by thousands gathered on the south lawn James Polk (1845–1849) apparently had lit- of the White House to celebrate Indepen- Jefferson lived in the White House for two tle enthusiasm for music in general and rarely dence Day and the Emancipation Proclama- years as a widower, along with his two used the Marine Band, which had already tion in song. Five hundred members of the daughters and their husbands. According to appeared for previous administrations on a Christian Commission11 sang Your Mission, Kristin Onuf, research assistant at Monticello, regular basis. Zachary Taylor (1849–1850) “The Soldier’s Chorus” from Faust, and vari- “There are no known choral performances was in offi ce for approximately sixteen ous hymns on January 27, 1865. After the given during Jefferson’s presidency.”4 It was months before he died. On April 24, 1849, fall of Richmond on April 1, 1865, crowds during James Madison’s (1809–1817) time the Baker Family presented a program of gathered in front of the White House sing- that the British entered Washington on popular songs. The six members of the Baker ing Battle Hymn of the Republic and Dixie. It August 24, 1814, and burned the Capitol family were similar to the Hutchinsons, but appears that the music heard in the White and at 11:00 p.m. launched twenty-two sang more sentimental music with titles such House during Lincoln’s time was mostly pa-
10 CHORAL JOURNAL Volume 52 Number 11 triotic or operatic. When Lincoln lay in state the Hutchinson Family returned to the Blue their family, including The Good Old Days of in the Springfi eld City Hall, “selections from Room where they sang several songs to the Yore, One Hundred Years Hence, Freedom’s Mendelssohn’s St. Paul and Elijah were sung President and Mrs. Hayes and members of Song, The Blue and the Gray, and The Good by a large choir.”12 An all-male choir called the Washington Sängerbund (a singing soci- ety that held its fi rst rehearsal in Washington, D. C., on April 20, 1851) on April 22, 1865 “[F]urnished an honor guard at the head of the bier of the dead President.” At one point, they broke the silence by singing Gesang der Geister über den Wassern [Song of the Spir- its Above the Waters] by Franz Schubert. Andrew Johnson (1865–1869) moved into the White House to face the task of reunit- ing the country. Music that had once stirred souls was now put in the distance to avoid painful memories. The Johnsons had a large Dr. Allen Hightower family living in the White House, including Luther College welcomes Nordic Choir fi ve grandchildren, all of whom would study Director of Choral music. It is recorded that the Swiss Bell Ring- Andrew Last Activities ers performed on January 21, 1867. Ulysses S. Grant (1869–1877) admired the Marine Andrew C. Last joins Luther’s Band and used them frequently. Grant internationally acclaimed choral was not fond of opera, but did enjoy the program as assistant professor of Hutchinson Family. There is a record of the music and director of Norsemen and Collegiate Chorale. A 1997 Washington Sängerbund performing again in graduate of Luther, Last holds a the White House on July 16, 1870. In 1872, master’s degree from Northern the Fisk Jubilee Singers “made a quick trip Arizona University and is to Washington, D.C., hoping to infl uence completing his doctorate in choral Linda Martin Cantorei a bill pending in Congress concerning the conducting at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. transfer of federal lands to Fisk University. He has extensive experience directing high school and university choirs and has traveled widely as a President Grant received them at the White guest clinician. Last comes to Luther from Concordia House and prominent government offi cials University in Nebraska, where he serves on the 13 commended their singing.” The Fisk choir voice faculty. was the fi rst African-American choir to sing Luther’s choral program comprises three upper-class in the White House. mixed touring choirs, two first-year choirs, and an Rutherford B. Hayes (1877– 1881) was upper-class women’s choir. Well over 500 singers fond of singing hymns with friends of the from these ensembles combine with the college’s cabinet in the evening hours in the family instrumental forces for five annual Christmas at Luther Weston Noble Professor Emeritus library (today’s Yellow Oval Room on the performances. Christmas at Luther 2012 will be second fl oor). There were more than fi fty featured nationwide with a new one-hour special musical performances held in the White on PBS. House during his short term. March 6, 1877 Nearly 1,000 student-musicians study with Luther’s found the thirty-member Amphian Club 56-member music faculty, which includes 4 choral of Columbus, Ohio (formerly known as conductors, 13 voice teachers, and a vocal coach. the Columbus Glee Club) performing in It all adds up to one of the largest collegiate music programs in the world! the corridor opposite the Blue Room in which President Hayes and family and a few friends were seated. They sang a number Dr. Sandra Peter Aurora of Mrs. Hayes’s favorites, concluding with Cathedral Choir Good Night and the hymn, There’s a Land http://music.luther.edu that is Fairer than Day. On March 14, 1877,
CHORAL JOURNAL Volume 52 Number 11 11 Choral Music in the White House
Time Coming. Each year, Thanksgiving was a Lullaby Glee. It was noted that the piano several members of congress heard the Fisk dinner for all of the families associated with in the Red Parlor was sadly out of tune. Jubilee Singers following a performance at the White House. William H. Crook, a mem- Although individual opera singers had visited the Congregational Church in Washington, ber of the White House staff recalls that: the White House for decades, it was during D.C. As printed in the Washington Post on Hayes’s administration that the fi rst opera February 18, 1882, the twelve members of [A]bout twenty-fi ve…drifted about company paid a visit. The C. D. Hess English the choir: the piano. Mrs. Hayes played, and we Opera Company led by Giuseppe Operti all sang hymns together—sweet old performed on April 19, 1879. During the [C]alled yesterday to pay their Methodist tunes, for the President afternoon of April 9, 1880, the University respects to President Arthur, and and Mrs. Hayes were identified Singers of New Orleans performed in the while there sang several melodies with the old Foundry church in Blue Room. Following Hayes’s term in offi ce, among them Safe in the Arms of Jesus, Washington. he entertained the Fisk Jubilee Singers at his which actually moved the President Ohio home (which he called Spiegel Grove) to tears. I never saw a man so deeply By now, the Hutchinson Family had be- in May 1882.14 moved, said Reverend Rankin….The President frankly informed his visitors come regulars in the White House and on James Garfi eld (1881– 1881) was only in after hearing them that he had never April 18, 1878, returned with a performance offi ce for four months before he was assassi- before been guilty of so impressive in the Red Room singing Grandfather’s Clock, nated on September 19, 1881. On February an exhibition of his feelings.15 Creed of the Bell, Old Lock by the Stair, and 16, 1882 Chester Arthur (1881– 1885) and
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12 CHORAL JOURNAL Volume 52 Number 11 Chester Arthur’s wife Ellen was a contralto often, including the Westminster Choir, Uni- March 9, 1929, during a tea. The Washington and a member of the Mendelssohn Glee versity of Missouri, University of Wisconsin, Star reported: Club of New York City (which sang at her Furman University, Arion Singing Society, funeral on January 14, 1880).16 Benjamin Bethlehem Bach Choir, and Amherst College This Westminster Choir is indeed Harrison’s (1889– 1893) wife Caroline was (Coolidge’s alma mater). On April 16, 1925, the most unusual and outstandingly one of two Presidential wives who were the two-hundred-fi fty voice Bethlehem Bach American musical effort of any size professional musicians. Caroline taught in Choir with the Philadelphia Orchestra per- produced in this country to date. It has won enthusiastic support the music department at Oxford Female formed Bach’s Mass in B-Minor. This was the of prominent people everywhere Institute (later part of Miami University of fi rst performance ever in Washington, D.C. in this country and has a long list Ohio). On February 5, 1890, a funeral was Following the concert, Mrs. Coolidge re- of distinguished sponsors abroad ceived the choir in the White House. Presi- held in the East Room for the daughter and awaiting its initial appearance in the dent Coolidge served as the honorary wife of Benjamin Tracy, Secretary of the Navy, countries of Europe.19 both of whom had been killed in a fi re at chairman of the National Music Week cel- ebration in 1924. The Westminster Choir their home. The St. John’s Choir (consisting of The Westminster Choir also sang for (originally known as the Dayton Westminster four basses, four tenors, and eighteen boys) Roosevelt and Eisenhower. The Hoover pe- Choir, because in the 1920s, the choir was conducted by William H. Daniel sang Lead, riod records performances by the Hampton 17 based at Westminster Presbyterian Church Kindly Light. Institute led by Nathaniel Dett on April 21, in Dayton, Ohio), under the direction of John 1930, and by the Tuskeegee Institute in 1933, Finley Williamson, made its fi rst appearance on their way to perform at the opening of in the White House on November 18, 1925. Radio City Music Hall in New York City.20 1900 – 1945 The Star-Spangled Banner was offi cially rec- Hampton and Tuskeegee were the fi rst two ognized as the national anthem on March 3, On May 7, 1906, the Washington Sänger- African-American choirs to perform in the 1931 by President Herbert Hoover (1929– bund hosting the Weiner Männergesangerein White House since Fisk. An additional per- 1933). It was based on the melody of a [Male Singing Society of Vienna] all crowded formance by the Hampton Institute Choir popular gentlemen’s song of the 1770s, To into the East Room to present a perfor- occurred in 1945. mance for Theodore Roosevelt (1901– Anacreon in Heaven. (It appears in George 1909). The program included Schubert’s Henry Davidson’s Universal Melodist, Volume Twenty-third Psalm, Alt niederdeutsches Lied I, London, 1847, and is ascribed to John Staf- [Old German Songs] by Richard Heuberger ford Smith of the Anacreontic Society, an 1945 – Present amateur musician’s group from London.) (a professor at the Vienna Conservatory), Franklin Roosevelt (1933–1945) was One recorded performance by the West- and other German lieder. On December 26, a baritone who took singing lessons at age 1903, a children’s party was held in the East minster Choir took place at 4:00 p.m. on Room with music provided by the Rooney Boys from Chicago. During the William Howard Taft (1909–1913) administration, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and New York Mozart Society performed. Woodrow Wilson (1913–1921) was a violinist and HONOR CHOIR REPERTOIRE sang tenor in the Princeton University Glee THE AUGUST ISSUE OF THE CHORAL JOURNAL WILL INCLUDE A COMPLETE LISTING OF Club and, later as a graduate student, in the ACDA'S 2012 DIVISION CONFERENCES' ALL-STATE HONOR CHOIR REPERTOIRE. Johns Hopkins University Glee Club, which consisted of thirteen members in 1884. On February 28, 1914, thirty-fi ve members from St. Nicholas Cathedral in New York City performed for Wilson. Warren Harding (1921–1923) was a brass player studying at Ohio Central College. He would on occa- sion play with the Marine Band in the White House. On June 3, 1921, he “celebrated National Music Week with a massive group of 50,000 children and fi ve bands on the Ellipse.”18 Florence Harding was a graduate of the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Calvin Coolidge (1923–1929) used choirs
CHORAL JOURNAL Volume 52 Number 11 13 Choral Music in the White House seventeen and was a member and secretary singers started to take their bows, ing (Londonerry Air).27 Lyndon Johnson 21 of the Freshman Glee Club at Harvard. the President interrupted suddenly. (1963–1969), who was responsible for the The Hampton Institute Choir, the Mongolia ‘Haven’t you forgotten something?’ formation of the National Foundation for High School Choir, the Priority Ramblers he asked. ‘There’s supposed to be the Arts, had the New Christy Minstrels of the United Federal Workers of America, another number—The Battle Hymn perform on January 14, 1964. The West- and the Winged Victory Chorus performed of the Republic. It’s here on the minster Choir performed at a state dinner program.’ While the guests listened for Roosevelt. Four choral performances on December 14, 1965, in honor of the in amusement and some amazement, are known to have taken place during the President of Pakistan, Ayub Khan. The choir the bandleader explained that the Harry Truman (1945–1953) terms, including sang Peter Lutkin’s Benediction conducted by song was indeed scheduled, but had the U.S. Naval Academy Choir (February 9, not been rehearsed. ‘We’ll sing it, George Lynn. The Yale Whiffenpoofs turned 1947 and April 4, 1948), Bowdoin College though,’ he said, ‘if you’ll all sing with down an invitation from President Richard Glee Club (March 24, 1948), and the West us.’ And so after one false start, which Nixon (1969–1974) to sing Christmas car- Point Choir from the U.S. Military Academy Waring interrupted to complain ols at the White House in 1973, stating that (April 24, 1948). No performances took good-humoredly that ‘You all sing they were afraid if they appeared it would place in the White House during the later terribly—let’s try again!’ the roomful look as though they supported Nixon during 28 part of 1948 through spring 1952 due to of dignitaries sang the stirring Civil Watergate. Jimmy Carter (1977–1981) extensive renovations. After 150 years, the War anthem, and-tapping her foot called upon Robert Shaw to organize the White House had deteriorated to a point merrily—the Queen joined in, too.25 musical events for his inauguration. The it was deemed unsafe. Everything in the Army Chorus conducted by Major Allen interior was taken out, steel reinforcements The Westminster Choir performed at the Crowell performed on many occasions such were erected and the whole interior was fi rst state banquet of the season (January 16, as the March 29, 1979, celebration of the then put back together so that it was again 1958) held in the White House as guests peace accord between Egypt and Israel.29 the original White House. of President and Mrs. Eisenhower. “The oc- This event was one of Allen Crowell’s last On August 1, 1956, President Dwight casion was in honor of Vice President and performances before he retired from his Eisenhower (1953–1961) signed H.R. 811 Mrs. Nixon, the Cabinet and their wives, duties with the Army Chorus in July 1979. bill to charter the National Music Council, and represented a high point for the Choir In some subsequent program notes from a which represented all volunteer music in the year’s activities.”26 This would be the performance with his University of Georgia 22 groups in the United States. On January last performance at the White House under Men’s Glee Club, he stated: 8, 1957, the Howard University Choir per- the direction of John Finley Williamson, who formed music that was based on Eisenhow- retired in 1958. The Mormon Tabernacle James Kessler, a student of Samuel 23 er’s inaugural message. The popular Fred Choir is recorded as performing in the Adler and graduate of The Eastman Waring and the Pennsylvanians performed White House on October 26, 1958. The School of Music, was for over three times during 1957 for the Eisenhow- list of artists that performed and visited the twenty years the principle staff ers, including a performance on October White House during the John F. Kennedy arranger for The United States 17 for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and (1961–1963) term reads like a who’s who in Army Band and Chorus. It was to His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, Duke of music including Bernstein, Stravinsky, Casals, Jim that Major Allen Crowell turned Edinburgh. “Waring closed with his poignant Barber, Carter, Copland, Dello Joio, Hanson, to provide a significant selection for this important occasion. Jim, arrangement of Battle Hymn of the Republic. Harris, Hovhaness, Menotti, and Schuman. an observant Jew himself, went to When he put down his baton and looked On January 9, 1962, the Vienna Boys’ both embassies and consulted their over at the President, both he and Mamie Choir sang for the President outside his were weeping.”24 Wiley T. Buchanan served cultural attachés to determine what offi ce. The Breckenridge Boys’ Choir from might be appropriate and recognized as Chief of Protocol during the Eisenhower Texas sang on April 16, 1962, on the South by both parties and their delegations. administration and in his book titled Red Lawn of the White House in a concert There is no Arabic choral tradition, Carpet at the White House, describes the for the congressional children. On March but Jim found a monodic chant, October 1957 visit of Queen Elizabeth II 11, 1963, the Boys’ and Men’s Choir of Salma ya salama based on the and Prince Philip: the Philharmonic Society of Poznan (the words for peace, and a folk-like Choir has been attached to the Roman tune by Naomi Shemer, Machar. He After dinner, another 200 guests Catholic Cathedral of Poznan, Poland, since quickly arranged them to be sung in or so were invited to the East 1450) performed in the Rose Garden. In Arabic and Hebrew, and then when Room for forty-five minutes of November 1963, at the funeral of Presi- translated into English for the rest musical entertainment by Fred dent Kennedy, the Naval Academy Catholic of the audience, combined them Waring and the Pennsylvanians. At Choir positioned on the North Portico sang in counterpoint. At the moment the end of the program, when the Above the Hills of Time the Cross is Gleam- the two were sung together, the
14 CHORAL JOURNAL Volume 52 Number 11 Peter’s Way Tours 2013/2014 Festivals A tradition of promoting and drawing the most well attended concert venues!
tenors with the Arabic chant and Duke Ellington Choir from the Duke El- the basses with the hora-like Machar, lington School for the Performing Arts sang. President Sadat rose from his chair, William Jefferson Clinton (1993–2001) walked behind President Carter, was a musician noted for his saxophone and embraced Prime Minister Begin. performances. Many choirs continued the There were not many dry eyes tradition of performing during the holiday 30 under the huge tent. season as visitors viewed the decorated White House. In 2002, during the George W. Many of the choral performances during Bush (2001–2009) administration, the Texas the term of Ronald Reagan (1981–1988) Girls’ Choir performed. In 2005, the Cente- centered on the winter holiday season. On nary College Choir from Shreveport, LA, and January 15, 1983, the Boys Choir of Harlem the University of Texas at Tyler College Choir performed in the East Room as part of the were among those singing.34 In 2006, the observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. The Howard University Chorale (Washington, President remarked “And let me especially D.C.), Oak Hill United Methodist Church thank the Harlem Boys Choir. From what Chancel Choir (Austin, TX), Central Bucks we’ve just heard, I think that you fellows High School Madrigal Choir (Doylestown, could show the famous Vienna Boys’ Choir PA), the Princeton Nassoons College Choir 31 a thing or two.” On December 10, 1984, (Princeton, NJ), and West Potomac High President Reagan signed the International School Soundsations (Alexandria, VA) were •• BBeenneeddiicctt PPaarraaddee Human Rights Day Proclamation and, in his among the performing groups.35 Rome and speech, referred to the youth of the world On May 5, 2005, the St. Olaf Choir, con- Vatican City and stated the following: ducted by Anton Armstrong, performed in May 3 - 5, 2013 • June 6 - 8, 2014 celebration of the National Day of Prayer The other night at the Kennedy for President Bush and Laura Bush. Among • “Europe and its Songs” Center, they had a choir, a United the repertoire was their signature Beautiful International Folksong Choir Festival Nations choir of 90 young people, Savior. The St. Olaf Choir fi rst performed children, in the costumes of their Barcelona, Spain in the White House in 1920, during the native countries from all over the Sept. 18 - 21, 2013 • Sept. 17 - 20, 2014 Harding administration and followed with a world. And looking at them down performance for President Hoover in 1932. there, singing together, I couldn’t help • International Music President Nixon watched one of the St. Olaf but think ‘Good Lord, if we turn it all Choir Festival over to them, they’d get along just Christmas broadcasts and wrote a letter to 36 Rome and Vatican City fi ne together.’32 the choir praising the performance. The African Children’s Choir performed in the July 19 - 22, 2013 • July 18 - 21, 2014 On August 1, 1988, President Reagan made grand foyer of the White House on July 30, • Festival Internazionale comments following a performance by the 2008 as part of a bill-signing ceremony held Eastern High School Choir conducted by for the renewal and expansion of the Global di Musica e Arte Sacra 37 Joyce Garrett. The choir had recently re- AIDS Initiative. The Fisk Jubilee Singers By invitation only were awarded the National Medal of Arts in Orchestra in residence, turned from Europe, where they competed Vienna Philharmonic in the Vienna International Youth Festival. 2008 in a White House ceremony. President Among the President’s comments he said Barack Obama was inaugurated on January Rome and Vatican City “How do you say something when there’s 20, 2009. One of the musical offerings was October Annually a lump as big as a tennis ball in your throat? An Exhortation by composer David Conte Your talent is manifest, your brilliant per- and performed by the San Francisco Girls • Festival Internazionale formance in Europe was an inspiration to Chorus, Susan McMane, conductor, and the di Arte per Giovanni Musicisti all of us.”33 Choirs have participated in the San Francisco Boys Chorus, Ian Robertson, Rome and Vatican City conductor. This work is based on Presi- annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony By invitation/audition only dent Obama’s November 4, 2008, victory since 1923. During George Herbert Walker November Annually speech. An unaccompanied version of the Bush’s (1989–1993) tenure, one such choir Contact us for details was the Roanoke College Children’s Choir work for SATB chorus was commissioned who performed on December 14, 1989. by the Central Bucks High School-West To request a sample program: During the Points of Light Community Chamber Choir, Joseph Ohrt, conductor, Email: [email protected] Service Celebration on April 26, 1991, the and performed for President Obama and or call: 800-225-7662, x111
CHORAL JOURNAL Volume 52 Number 11 15 Choral Music in the White House
First Lady Michelle Obama on December As the first notes of The Star- everyone was singing. The Russians 11, 2011. According to Ohrt, the President Spangled Banner sounded, looked thunderstruck, almost was “thrilled” to hear this musical setting of somewhere in the vast gathering a frightened.38 his words. Among other choirs that have little man started to sing. People performed for President Obama was Sweet stared at him, amazed, but he went The White House has been and will con- Honey in the Rock, who performed on Feb- on singing in a reedy, quavering tinue to be one of the major venues for the ruary 18, 2009. voice. Then, hesitantly, one or two display of American arts. Singing will always Although choral group singing in the others joined him, then more and be part of our American culture. more, until the great dining hall was White House have varied in size of en- fi lled with a roar of voices. It was semble and repertoire, many of the per- an astounding thing; the emotional formances have the attention of the most NOTES impact was tremendous. All the powerful people in the world. It can impact frustration we had been feeling, all 1 Neil W. Horstman, Letter from the White House the moment as evidenced in September the love and pride we felt for our Historical Association, September 15, 2003. 1959 when Nikita S. Khrushchev, Chair- country, all the things we wanted to 2 Elise K. Kirk, Musical Highlights From the White man of the Council of Ministers of the say and could not, found release and House (Melbourne, FL: Krieger Publishing Soviet Union, visited the United States. At came crashing through in the words Company, 1992), Forward. a luncheon, the national anthems of both of the old song. Some people had 3 Elise K. Kirk, Music in the White House: A History of countries were to be played. tears running down their faces, but
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16 CHORAL JOURNAL Volume 52 Number 11 the American Spirit (Champaign, ILL: University 23 Ibid., 267. Congratulating the Eastern High School of Illinois Press, 1986), 23. 24 Ibid., 271. Choir.” August 1, 1988.
CHORAL JOURNAL Volume 52 Number 11 17