Jay Nordlinger, The New Criterion’s music critic, talks music—but, more important, plays music.
January 18, 2021
Subscribe to The New Criterion’s podcast series via Apple or Google.
In 1913, Vachel Lindsay wrote “General William Booth Enters into Heaven.” It speaks of the founder of the Salvation Army. Peggy Noonan cited this poem in a recent column. In 1914, Charles Ives set the poem to music. You will hear it in this episode. Also a Beatles concerto (yes), a rag by an early Metropolitan Opera soprano (yes), some American standards, and, at the end, transcendent Mahler. Jay plays off a good amount of reader mail. An amazingly eclectic, interesting episode.
Shchedrin, Piano Concerto No. 1
Robison, “Think Well of Me”
Rutter, “Beatles Concerto,” first movement
Pinkard-Alexander-Mitchell, “Sugar”
Ives, “General William Booth Enters into Heaven”
Pinkard-Bernie-Casey, “Sweet Georgia Brown”
Case, “Metropolitan Rag”
Handel, “Rejoice greatly,” from “Messiah”
Mahler, Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection”
A Message from the Editors
Support The New Criterion and the unyielding defense of civilization.
Your donation strengthens our efforts to preserve the gifts of our cultural heritage.
