Howard Hanson - Song Of Democracy

[@dianalee3059]

One of my most cherished memories of my high school years was performing this piece with the a cappella choir. It is so passionate, so beautiful. It was my introduction to the music of Howard Hanson and I’ve been a lifelong fan ever since.

[@bravaLiz]

I can no longer watch tv news, go on social media... everyone is fighting, selfish, has an agenda...whether ultra left liberals or those on the ultra right. EQUALLY OBNOXIOUS! NO one, it appears, can see the "big picture" ...and then I found this. I immerse myself in the arts.... I first performed this when I was 16 yrs old (won't go into detail as to how or why....but eventually became a pro musician) I was hooked. I am also a literature and history fanatic.... As I fell upon this, I realized the power of the words of W.W., as applied to the composition of Hanson. I wept with gratitude for this link. I hope it NEVER goes away. My feelings,too profound to express. This gives me hope and strength...a sense of renewed tolerance and joy. No matter what political/social/religious views.... how can one with a mind AND HEART ....not be moved by this? I have "gushed" enough.... Deepest thanks to ricroc1948 for sharing with us.

[@eleanorsopwith9806]

❤

[@nancywood9531]

I sang this in 1961 at Ottumwa High Schoom. In Iowa. We had a madrigal choir that sang in state competition. We won b trophy. We also sang it with whole chorus at my Graduation . Great song. Glad to listen to it again after 61 years.

[@shadieossei4336]

My favorite choral song of all time!!! Sang this in my University Chorus at URI

[@wendyleeconnelly2939]

My school chorus sang this at the All County Chorus in Western NY in the late 1980s

[@SingingGeek05]

I was fortunate enough to perform this piece at world- famous Severance Hall under the baton of James Feddeck. This brings back so many memories :) Thank you!

[@jimmydutwo]

Leonard Hurst, choral director of Morgan Park H.S. FROM 1961 TO 1985, a Chicago Public High School, a one man show that brought it all together with minimal resources, becoming one of the top two or three best public school programs in Chicago during this era, "S" 's in state competitions, Fall Productions such as Oklahoma, Bye Bye Birdie and Brigadoon, choirs singing with the Chicago Civic/Symphony under the direction of Margaret Hillis, this was one of his choirs' signature pieces such as many others such as Tu Pamperum, Thompson's Alleluia, Bach's ALL Breathing Life, Porgy and Bess, A Peacable Kingdom, Brahms How Lovely is the Dwelling Place, Paul Hindemith's Chansoms and many others, these were magical moments of music that sent chills down your spine when you sang them and Leonard, who passed away in retirement in Indiana a little over a year ago made it all happen. Magical music directors like this enrich lives with pieces like this. Hopefully a number you have experienced someone like this or will in the future.

[@bravaLiz]

jimmydutwo I stumbled across your comment. Found it interesting that EVERYTHING you mentioned, I either sang.... and eventually conducted....from both a choral as well as orchestral perspective (well, except for "Birdie") bye-bye! =D ....I too was fortunate to have been blessed with the best, and it is called "pay it forward." If you are not a pro musician, matters not. You have the gift of experience and understanding true beauty.p.s. as per the Hindemith, I believe you spoke of the six chansoNs.... I do not post my own material. I wish to remain private as per my professional life. However, I have a suggestion/gift for you and hope you will enjoy: go to KZbin bethoO55..... Six Chansons.....a most lovely a cappella choral work based upon the lyrics of Rainer Maria Rilke. mais.... j'ai une question: avez-vous chanter cette en anglais, ou en français ? Best Wishes to you et Bonne Chance. Alles Gutte! I am sorry my PC is playing tricks on me with strange capitalizations and spelling. I am ready to give up on G+ but NEVER an die Musik und well.... YOU know.

[@paulblake8903]

Song this at Shortridge High School in Indianapolis, Indiana, under the direction of Mr. Don Neuen back in the 50s. He was our choir director.

[@harrisda1]

Sang in Texas All State Choir in 1967 with friends Andy Dement, Sharon Humphreys and Bobby Johnson. Grand memories!

[@serenitysmoon]

A Classical Masterpiece, thanks for posting!

[@BVLS72]

Used this for my class on Whitman. Thank you!

[@bravaLiz]

Bridget Somerville BRAVA....to you! Appears you not only appreciate beautiful poetry.....but the power of how it can be expressed through wonderful music.

[@charlestimberlake5522]

Very good idea. Doing this piece at music camp when I was in high school got me into Whitman who was maybe our country's greatest poet. Footnote: When Ralph Vaughan Williams wrote his Sea Symphony for chorus and orchestra, for texts he chose poems by Whitman. A Brit chose Whitman!

[@josealexandreferreiradacos193]

"Oh ideal, my dearest and noble ideal / I wish you would be what I knew of you/ when all my generation was born and not just a few please, bring us all together again please do not become just an ordeal...." . A, Steyman, 1958

[@JohnPA97]

Performed this back in the 70's in high school in Pa. and was fortunate enough to guest conduct it many years later in Tampa right after the millennium celebration.

[@bpnsnvgmail5696]

Hi John Sherman, just curious, when did you guest conduct this piece in Tampa and with who? I was a singing member of the Tampa Bay Gay Men's Chrous from 1994 to 2003. A new artistic director to the helm in 2000, and he had us do this piece. Tough as hell to learn, it took a really long time to fully memorize, but boy oh boy was it ever worth it!! When we would start singing the "only a lot of boys and girls" section, I would get SO damn emotional over the words and the music that went with it, my eyes would tear up as I was singing. Slo here we are now in 2017, entering into the deep abyss of what it going to turn out to be one of America's most darkest chapters ever in our Country's domestic history. How appropriate is it, that this astounding musical work is actually a shining example of artistic freedom at its very best, a beacon of light and inspiration for us all. And as for Galorious330....you can just go back to Kindergarten where you belong. Or better yet, why not try getting a job working for Kaiser Trump? A no brainer like you would fit right in with all his Cabinet members.

[@cathynewton4617]

I think you misunderstood Galorious330's comment. In current slang, "dope" doesn't mean "stupid." Quite the contrary.

[@frog546]

@@bpnsnvgmail5696 Galorious' comment is how young people like myself say 'really great' to one another. And when I get older, I'm sure that I'll shake my head at the youth and their strange words. "An old man, gathering youthful memories and blooms, that youth itself cannot."

[@kybelian]

Same here as for singing it in high school

[@lokotasioux]

Sang this in All State Choir in 1957-58, with All State Band and orchestra, under the direction of Roger Wagner. Folks, this brings memories of public school as it used to be. This work causes a stirring in my soul of an America that used to be.

[@lokotasioux]

*ricroc, thank you for this. Actually, I think it was 1958. A decade later, I met Howard Hanson at a concert in Washington, D.C., and got his autograph.

[@cydneywaynedavis]

OMG. This song has haunted me for decades. I sang it in 1975 with a combined choir of high school students from my district. We recorded a live album of this song among others but over the years I lost track of it. This song was the one that would often come to mind. It was a challenge to learn but was fulfilling in a way that expanded my teenage mind. "An old man's thought of school" was the lyric that hooked me and the tool to find this on youtube, WOW. THANK YOU for sharing this masterpiece.

[@daisymesser2879]

A whole bunch of former chorus students gathering to sing this as part of our farewell tribute to our beloved choir director

[@lokotasioux]

Thank you for sharing your experience with this work. It still haunts me.@@cydneywaynedavis

[@lokotasioux]

@@cydneywaynedavis I replied to you in the wrong place....below Daisy Messer's reply.

[@Galorious330]

This song is dope as shit.

[@lokotasioux]

You must be speaking of yourself. You have no depth; but maybe you are just too young to get it.

[@zombee5700]

Galorious330 100%

[@cathynewton4617]

@@lokotasioux, actually, in the current vernacular, that comment is high praise, and I was really pleased to see that someone young enough to use that vernacular would apply it to this great piece. It tells me that people still appreciate the genius of Whitman and Hanson.

[@eleanorsopwith9806]

@@lokotasiouxthanks for the translation! 😂

[@MarjorieShalita]

Song of Democracy Lyrics An old man's thoughts of school An old man's gathering youthful memories and Blooms that youth itself cannot Now only do I know You O fair auroral skies - O morning dew upon the grass! And these I see, these sparkling eyes These stores of mystic meaning, these young lives Building, equipping like a fleet of ships, immortal ships Soon to sail out over the measureless seas On the soul's voyage Only a lot of boys and girls? Only the tiresome spelling, writing, ciphering classes? Only a public school? Ah more, infinitely more And you America Cast you the real reckoning for your present? The lights and shadows of your future, good or evil? To girlhood, boyhood look, the teacher and the school Sail, Sail thy best, ship of Democracy Of value is thy freight, 'tis not the present only The Past is also stored in thee Thou holdest not the venture of thyself alone Not of thy Western continent alone Earth's resume entire floats on thy keel, O ship Is steadied by thy spars With thee Time voyages in trust, the antecedent Nations sink or swim with thee With all their ancient struggles, martyrs, heroes Epics, wars, thou bear'st the other continents Theirs, theirs as much as thine, the destination - Port triumphant; Steer then with good strong hand and wary eye O helmsman, thou carriest great companions Venerable priestly Asia sails this day with thee And royal feudal Europe sails with thee And royal feudal Europe sails with thee