Song of Resistance: Concert/Fundraiser Sept. 8

Resist!

[Bumped — Charley]

Well, we’re doing it again:

WHAT: “Song of Resistance”, a concert/fundraiser for five Democratic congressional candidates.
WHEN: Saturday, September 8, 8pm
WHERE: The Edward M. Pickman Concert Hall at the Longy School of Music of Bard College, 27 Garden Street, Cambridge MA
WHO: Singers and instrumentalists from some of Boston’s brightest classical music lights.
HOW: Tickets $35/$60/$100/$250/$500 via ActBlue: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/songofresistance

Patrons of this humble online banana-stand may remember the Obama concert in 2008; or even before this blog existed, the Kerry concert in 2004. It’s been a while, but with so many musicians and music-lovers wanting to check this predatory, cruel, and corrupt  administration, I felt it was time to get the band together again, as it were. The program is eclectic — just how I like it. Pretty heavy on American music, but with a Renaissance set as well. I’m very grateful to all the performers who are contributing. They are colleagues but I am unreservedly a fan of each of them.

The candidates we’re supporting:

Jared Golden (ME-2 — incumbent is Bruce Poliquin-R)
Annie Kuster (incumbent, NH-2)
Democratic nominee fund (New Hampshire 1st; incumbent Carol Shea-Porter is retiring. Primary is on September 11)
Antonio Delgado (New York 19th district) (watch this ad vs. the incumbent John Faso)

Beto O’Rourke (Texas, US Senate)

The ActBlue form allows you to allocate your contribution however you’d like. I tried to keep the roster regional for the House, and include a stretch for the Senate. O’Rourke has the nation’s attention for his impassioned and principled take on NFL players kneeling in protest of racial injustice. And he’s running against Ted Cruz – enough said.

The Facebook event page is here; please share in your networks. And buy a ticket! (If you can’t attend, there’s a box to simply put in a donation, too.)

Press release, including performers, beneath the fold:

Boston Area Musicians Strike a Chord for Democracy in “Song of Resistance”

For press inquiries, contact Charles Blandy: charley at bluemassgroup.com

WHAT: “Song of Resistance”, a concert/fundraiser for five Democratic congressional candidates.

WHEN: Saturday, September 8, 8pm

WHERE: The Edward M. Pickman Concert Hall at the Longy School of Music of Bard College, 27 Garden Street, Cambridge MA

WHO: Singers and instrumentalists from some of Boston’s brightest classical music lights.

HOW: Tickets $35/$60/$100/$250/$500 via ActBlue:

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/songofresistance

CAMBRIDGE, MA: Musicians who have contributed to the fabric of Boston’s artistic life are now contributing their efforts to our democracy. Called “A Song of Resistance”, their concert aims to raise $10,000 for five candidates for Congress who will resist the corruption and cruelty of Donald Trump’s administration.

“This is a perilous moment for our republic. People in all walks of life are fighting back against the Trump administration’s cruelty and corruption. This is what we can offer as musicians: Our work — for funds, but also for morale,” says concert organizer and performer Charles Blandy.

The musicians are members of Boston’s leading musical lights: Handel and Haydn Society; Emmanuel Music; Blue Heron Renaissance Choir; Boston Modern Orchestra Project;  and countless others. (nb.: The performers are acting on their own behalf as individuals, and no endorsement whatsoever from these organizations is implied here.)

The eclectic program will feature works by American composers Harold Arlen, Aaron Copland, George Gershwin and William Bolcom. It also will feature works of the Baroque and Renaissance, including a powerful a cappella set with music by the composers William Byrd and Giaches deWert. “Especially when so much we treasure — culturally, civically —- is under assault, we wanted to celebrate some of the best of American culture. But the Renaissance pieces can be seen as topical, as well,” says Blandy.

Tickets can be purchased via ActBlue: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/songofresistance
Proceeds from the concert will be split between four US House candidates and one US Senate candidate (specific allocations can be customized by the contributor):

Jared Golden (Maine 2nd district)
Annie Kuster (New Hampshire 2nd)
Democratic nominee fund (New Hampshire 1st; primary is on September 11)
Antonio Delgado (New York 19th district)

Beto O’Rourke (Texas, US Senate)

Musicians/program (subject to change):

Charles Blandy, tenor; Linda Osborn, piano
Copland: Old American Songs

Mara Bonde, soprano; Linda Osborn, piano
Songs by Harold Arlen

Peggy Pearson, oboe; Diane Walsh, piano
Works by William Bolcom and George Gershwin

Kendra Colton, soprano
Songs by John Harbison

Elise Groves, soprano; Pamela Dellal, mezzo-soprano; Jason McStoots, tenor; Charles Blandy, tenor; Paul Guttry, bass

Giaches DeWert:Vox in Rama clamavit (A voice in Rama cries out)
William Byrd:Ne irascaris Domine (Be not angry, Lord)
Exsurge Domine (Arise, Lord)
Non vos relinquam orphanos (I will not leave you as orphans)

Jesse Irons, violin
Rafael Popper-Keizer, cello
Program TBA

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