Wynton at Harvard, Chapter 18: The Melting Pot

Delve into Wynton Marsalis's six-part Harvard University lecture series, covering a range of topics including jazz, what it means to be American, and the importance of cultural literacy and the arts in the liberal arts education.
XVIII. The Melting Pot
In this chapter, Wynton explains why "the blues is the melting pot of America."
Go to jazz.org/wyntonatharvard for the complete series.
"Hidden in Plain View: Meanings in American Music" is a series of six lectures delivered at Harvard University between 2011 and 2014 sponsored by the Office of the President and Provost. The inaugural lecture, “Music as Metaphor,” was delivered in Sanders Theatre to a capacity crowd. It is an interpretation of the many unobserved symbols in American music and an investigation into how they illuminate the democratic process.
It covers many of the fundamental devices, forms, and songs that bind the different Americas together at the root. It is Marsalis's contention that "'Me vs. You' and 'Us vs. Y'all'-vs. 'All of Us'-remains the struggle at the heart of humankind and the central debate of our Constitution. How do we achieve a common ground when individual victories are so much more valued? This conundrum has been resolved harmoniously in our musical arts for more than a century. Under the vibrant din of our democracy, on the lower frequencies, sonic metaphors speak to and for us all. What they tell us about what it means to be American could serve us well in these divisive and uncivil times."
Performances by Marsalis's ensemble (with special guest, the iconic fiddler Mark O'Connor) punctuate the lecture with musical explanations.
Mark O’Connor - fiddle
Walter Blanding - reeds
James Chirillo - guitar
Dan Nimmer - piano
Carlos Henriquez - bass
Ali Jackson - drums
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[@Purpadurpolis]

This is one of the most amazing gems I have seen. The history, wisdom, levity, and music are truly spectacular. Thank you for sharing this. I am deeply moved.

[@terryprockiw3831]

I wish America would find unity in all the good things and leave behind the disunity in all the bad things.

[@ariscarino9525]

Lovely words, lovely music.

[@jonunderscore]

This has moved me to tears multiple times

[@Chrissepisje]

Hey! I'm happy to hear I'm not the only one. I got very emotional during most of these chapters.

[@michael7v6]

@@Chrissepisje same.

[@terryprockiw3831]

I think it elicits that response in me because it breaks my heart to see the beauty and beautiful things that the spirit of America has produced being denigrated with such hatred and ignorance by our present generation. America isn't heaven that's for sure, but it is the greatest nation in history of this sinful world. We shouldn't throw it all away so easily - in exchange for something in which there shall be no light at all.

[@Chrissepisje]

@@terryprockiw3831 American exceptionalism is a good illustration why it is in fact very very much not the greatest nation that ever was. Of the modern ones in existence, my vote goes to Norway. America is inherently racist, economically unjust, socially backward and dangerously violent, in fact, like many of the larger Nations that currently exist. That it produces brilliant things some of the time does not contradict those statements.

[@payaparapasu]

awesome man

[@michael7v6]

Spot on!

[@One-eo5lj]

who are the people they keep panning to?

[@eberhardhelbig]

Die Musik ist das